Nation Worl d

al Sports Around the

The most popular sport in a country is usually called its ‘national sport’. Although some
countries play many sports, there is often one that is felt to be very important. This might be
a sport invented in that country, or one that people of all ages play and watch. Below, we’ll
look at five popular national sports.

Football
Football, also known as soccer, is one of the world’s most popular
sports. It involves two teams of eleven players trying to kick a ball
into a goal. It is the national sport of many countries, especially
in Latin America, Africa and Europe, but it is increasingly popular
elsewhere too. Although versions of the sport have existed for
thousands of years in places such as China, the sport we know as
‘football’ (or soccer) was invented in the UK in the 1800s. British
immigrants then spread the sport to other countries like Spain,
Brazil, and Italy.

Football is still particularly popular in England, where it is the national sport. The FA Cup,
an annual football tournament, is the world’s oldest, having started in 1871. Many famous
football clubs, such as Manchester United and Liverpool, are based in England. The English
Premier League is the top football league in the country, and it attracts millions of fans
from all over the world.

Cricket
Cricket is an incredibly popular sport in some countries of the world while being virtually
unknown in others. It is especially popular in Commonwealth countries and areas that
share a connection with the UK, such as England, South Africa, the Indian subcontinent,
and the Caribbean. It is a team sport where two teams of eleven players each take turns
batting and fielding. The aim is to score as many runs as possible while preventing the
other team from doing the same.

In India, cricket is the top sport and is played at all levels, from the street
to the stadium. The Indian cricket team is one of the strongest cricket
teams in the world, and it has won many international tournaments.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the most popular cricket league
in the world, attracting players from all over the world.

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 National Sports Around the World

Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is a sport played on ice, where two teams of six
players each try to score goals by hitting a puck into the
opposing team's net using a stick. It is particularly popular
in countries with colder climates, such as Canada, the
United States, and parts of northern Europe.

In Canada, ice hockey is the national sport and a source

of great pride for Canadians. The country is home to the
National Hockey League (NHL), which is one of the best professional ice hockey leagues in
the world – it is a league with both Canadian and American teams. Canadians are very
passionate about ice hockey, and it is common to see people playing the sport on frozen
ponds and lakes in the winter.

Basketball
Basketball is a popular sport played around the world, particularly in the United States
and many countries in Europe and Asia. It was first invented by a school teacher from
Canada, who originally used baskets and not hoops, hence the name ‘basketball’. It is a
team sport where two teams of five players each try to score points by shooting a ball
through a hoop that is 10 feet high. For this reason, many
(but not all) basketball players are tall.

In Latvia, basketball is the top sport and has a long and

successful history in the country. The Latvian Basketball
League is the top basketball league in the country, and
the national team has had success in international
competitions, including the Olympic Games.

Table Tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a popular indoor sport. It is a racket sport where
two or four players hit a small ball back and forth over a net on a table, much like a small
version of tennis. It is a popular hobby for many people across the world, but it is also a
competitive sport.

In China, table tennis is the top sport and is played by millions of

people across the country. The country has a long history of success in
the sport and has produced many world-class players. The China Table
Tennis Super League is the top table tennis league in the country, and
the national team is consistently one of the best in the world.

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 National Sports Around the World

Questions
Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What is football also known as?

2. Who helped to spread football around the world?

3. In which countries is cricket a popular sport?

4. What is the Indian Premier League?

5. In which countries is ice hockey particularly popular?

6. What is the National Hockey League?

7. Where is basketball a national sport?

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 National Sports Around the World
8. What is table tennis also known as?

9. In which country is table tennis the top sport?

Writing Comprehension Questions

1. Which of the five sports do you find most interesting? Why?

2. Do you think it's important for countries to have a national sport? Why or why not?

3. Have you ever played any of the five sports? Describe your experience.

4. Which sport do you think requires the most skill? Why?


This resource has been made for the purpose of teaching English language learners. We know that students can be learning English in many different places, in many different ways and at age, so we try to
keep these resources as general as possible.
There are many acronyms associated with English language teaching. These include (but are not limited to) ELT, TEFL, EFL, ELL, EAL and ESOL. While the term ESL may not fully represent the linguistic
backgrounds of all students, it is the most widely recognised term for English language teaching globally. Therefore, we use the term ‘ESL’ in the names of our resources to make them easy to find but they are
suitable for any student learning to speak English.

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 National Sports Around the World

Answers
Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What is football also known as?

Football is also known as soccer.

2. Who helped to spread football around the world?

British immigrants who moved to places like Italy, Spain, and Brazil.

3. In which countries is cricket a popular sport?

Cricket is a popular sport in many countries, particularly in the Indian subcontinent,

Australia, England, South Africa and the Caribbean.

4. What is the Indian Premier League?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a popular cricket league in India, attracting
players from all over the world.

5. In which countries is ice hockey particularly popular?

Ice hockey is particularly popular in countries with colder climates, such as Canada,
the United States, and parts of Europe.

6. What is the National Hockey League?

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the
USA and Canada.

7. Where is basketball a national sport?

Basketball is a national sport in Latvia.

8. What is table tennis also known as?

Table tennis is also known as ping pong.

9. In which country is table tennis the top sport?

Table tennis is the top sport in China.

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