Whether you are playing, watching, or betting on sports, they have always been a part of our life. Millions of fans attend thousands of events hosted yearly around the world. The backers of those events have an insatiable passion for them. Nothing is more thrilling than watching the best athletes in the world compete against each other, resulting in from thrilling moments to dramatic finishes. And a ton of action is expected in 2024.
Two of our top five sporting events—the Cheltenham Festival and Super Bowl LVIII—will be front and center over the period of six weeks. Then, in the summer, football becomes the main event and is in our top five as the Copa America and UEFA Euro 2024 take center stage. And that’s only the very beginning.
Indeed, three of the top five were ruined. But let’s look at this in a little more detail. Here are five of the world’s best sporting events.
The World’s Most Popular Sporting Event – Cheltenham Festival
Many people may have never heard of the Cheltenham Festival, especially if they are not horse racing fans. But it’s on our list for one reason: it’s the event with the highest odds in the world. Every year, bettors place an estimated £600 million worth of bets during the four-day festival, and it’s no wonder why.
This much-anticipated show begins every March and this year will run from the 12th to the 15th. Each year, the best horse talent, respected trainers, and famous jockeys from around the world gather for an unprecedented hurdles show.
Every year, high-stakes racing takes place at Cheltenham, and bookmakers from all over the world capitalize on the event’s popularity by providing a wide range of offers including money-back guarantees, price increases, and free bets in an effort to attract more customers. Speculators may therefore quickly start to feel overwhelmed. Fortunately for them, though, the well-known Oddschecker website compares all the best odds and deals so that fans may choose wisely and receive the best value for their money.
This week-long competition, held in the charming town of Cheltenham, attracts a number of notables, including the British Royal Family and other well-known figures in the British racing industry, who come to see the spectacle and take in the camaraderie. Even if the spectators themselves are a draw, the highlight of the event is the Gold Cup Chase, which happens on Friday, the fourth and last day. Paul Townend won the prestigious race in 2019 and 2020 riding Galopin Des Champs, which was a 7/5 favorite last year. This year, the pair is expected to be the first to win the event back-to-back since Al Boum Photo.
The World’s Most Popular Sporting Event – FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is held every four years and is arguably the world’s most popular sporting event. This global football spectacle attracts billions of viewers and brings excitement to the beautiful game on the world stage. Over the years, audiences have witnessed great moments, emotional comebacks, and amazing surprises. From Maradona’s “Hand of God” to Zidane’s infamous headbutt, the memories and moments of the World Cup reverberate through the years, making it arguably the most anticipated event on the sports calendar.
Due to Qatar’s scorching summer, the showpiece had to be moved from its traditional June and July locations, so the previous edition of the tournament was held in the winter of his 2022. But in the end, the tournament was definitely worth the wait. Germany failed to make it to the group stage for the second year in a row, but Morocco became the first African team to reach the semi-finals.
But in the end, the tournament ultimately came down to one man. Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain was playing in his fifth World Cup, but all he experienced on his biggest stage was pain. In 2014, he led Argentina to the final, but lost in extra time to Mario Götze, who scored Germany’s winning goal in the 116th minute. Almost 10 years later, Messi has his final chance to win his most coveted trophy.
His beloved Albiceleste could not have gotten off to a worse start, when they were caught off guard by Saudi Arabia in one of the biggest upsets of all time in the opening game. However, with two consecutive wins over Mexico and Poland, they secured a place in the finals. From then on, they never looked back.
Messi scored the opening goal in the second round, defeating Australia 2 goals to 1. He achieved his goal again as his team held their own and defeated the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals. He was the best player on the pitch during Argentina’s stunning 3-0 win over 2018 finalists Croatia in the semi-finals.
This meant they would face reigning champions France at the centerpiece of the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Messi will face his then-Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé in what will be a mouthwatering duel between the world’s best player and the heir to the throne. However, despite the Frenchman’s incredible hat-trick, it was Messi who secured the victory, scoring twice in his team’s penalty shoot-out victory and securing his place as the greatest footballer of all time.
The World’s Most Popular Sporting Event – UEFA European Championship
Although not as good as the World Cup, the UEFA European Championship is also one of the biggest events in the world. Like the Soccer World Cup, this tournament is also held bilaterally every four years and is a global showcase. The event features 24 of Europe’s top soccer nations competing for continental glory.
The current champions of the tournament are Italy. After Euro 2020 was postponed by a year due to global events, they stunned England in 2021 with a heartbreaking penalty shootout on enemy soil at Wembley Stadium. Italy has missed out on the World Cup for the second year in a row and will aim to defend their title in Germany this summer.
UEFA Euro 2024 will begin on June 14th with the hosts taking on Scotland at the Allianz Arena with FC Bayern Munich. A further 60 matches have been played since then, including the scene in which Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, and the final at Berlin’s state-of-the-art Olympic Stadium. But a talented young England team and hosts Germany are also hugely popular.
The World’s Most Popular Sporting Event – Super Bowl
The annual Super Bowl has become a legendary American sporting event. For many, the game is more than just a sporting spectacle, with the halftime show also drawing millions of spectators. The Super Bowl has become synonymous with high-stakes games, funny and clever commercials, and of course, pig skin.
Millions of people around the world watch in amazement as his two greatest teams in American football fight heart and soul to become Super Bowl champions. This year, Brock Purdy’s San Francisco 49ers and Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens are expected to be in the running for the Lombardi Trophy.
The World’s Most Popular Sporting Event – The Olympics
After the FIFA World Cup, the other major sporting event is the Olympics. Every four years, athletes from all over the world gather to demonstrate their physical prowess in a variety of disciplines. The Olympics are not just about winning medals, they are also about representing your country with pride, being part of the international community and embodying the values of excellence, respect and friendship. The diversity, excitement and unity expressed at the Olympics make them the world’s leading sporting event.