Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
We're past the debate of what's the best sport in the world – we're here to present you with 10 reasons why football is the answer. But before we start, let's get one thing out of the way – it's not American football we are talking about. Now let's start counting.
Some may not understand the thrill of the game or even call it uneventful – what are 3 goals compared to the 170+ points in a basketball game, right? Wrong.
Just like you'd turn to Irish casinos if you were to look for the top 10 casinos and betting sites, you have to read the following 10-reasons article that'll convince you why football is the sport.
These are the main grounds for placing football on the pedestal:
Good luck trying to find as many professional athletes as there are for football. In fact, football has one of the biggest transfer markets, and the madness grows bigger each year. In the Global Transfer Report for 2022, FIFA recorded 71,002 worldwide transfers (both professional and amateur).
Out of these, more than 20,000 are professional male footballers, or 11.6% more than in 2021, which is the biggest increase the sport has seen so far. Some of the heaviest transfers we saw in 2022 are:
If you don't want to look at contract numbers and money spent, you have to turn to the numbers that matter even more – the stadium crowds. Now, you could argue that basketball courts or American Football stadiums are full, too – but they are not nearly as big. And you'd probably not see a more passionate singing crowd than one that supports their football team in a regular game against low-level competitors.
That is not even the full story. Football definitely has the biggest worldwide following. If you look at the 2022 reports, the top 10 most-watched sporting events include:
Looking for the top 3 athletes who have made the biggest fortunes in the past year? That's right, you're looking at 3 football stars:
If you thought these are too big, we've recently heard even better news: If Messi were to sign with Saudi Arabia, the deal would be worth 1 Billion Dollars! That is double the amount that Ronaldo is currently being paid, and it is the highest deal seen in the history of football.
If you're a bettor that's into football, you've got some homework to do before placing wagers. The choices are literally endless – from which team will get the first corner to how many yellow cards the match will see.
You may bet on final outcomes, over/under, European or Asian Handicap, double chance, both teams to score, half-time and full-time results, exact scores, players that will score, the player that will first score or get a card, etc.
The best news? You won't have to look for too long to find a sportsbook that features these markets. Truth be told, you'll find them everywhere. P.S. The more you look, the better the odds you'll find.
Some say that the reason why football is so popular is pretty simple – you can't possibly follow only your favorite team. If you're a sports fan, you'll end up watching many matches – derbies and big matches happen rather often. The same goes for betting: why place a single bet when you can place accumulators and win bigger?
Sure, when placing accumulators or betting systems, the stakes are higher, and so are the risks, but the payouts are bigger. Another type of high-stake bet? Well, you can go ahead and place a wager on the team you think will win the next Champions League. That's right, this one isn't yet finished, but you are likely to find a bookie that allows you to place that bet one year in advance.
We talked about football betting markets and their variety, so it's safe to say that this is the perfect sport for gambling enthusiasts. No matter where you're from, as long as you have access to online betting sites – football is the sport that's always available.
Some bookies offer more competitive odds while others provide you with boosts for specific matches or leagues, but one thing stays the same – football wagers are accepted.
You may like or dislike the sport and its dynamics, but you cannot deny the quality and quantity of football leagues. We approximate there are more than 4,000 football clubs and over 200 leagues at the moment.
The numbers may vary from one year to another, but you've surely heard of and most likely watched a game of:
Relegation is mainly unique to football leagues, and the main reason why the games of the clubs at the bottom of the table are interesting to watch. As a general rule, whoever ends in the last 3 places in the season is relegated to the weaker league in the country. And as you may guess, that is one of the worst things that can happen to a team.
Remember us saying that you'll see a full stadium on a seemingly random match between 2 low-tier clubs? That might be because the teams are trying to save their dignity. On the other hand, the best clubs from the lower leagues are promoted to the higher league. Even if the club gets sent back after just 1 or 2 seasons, this may be a historic moment for the whole management.
Owners might not change as frequently but are surely getting critics for every move they make. But managers get the best of both worlds – it's not unheard of for a club to sack their manager for the third time in a season. Take a look at Chelsea FC – Potter replaced Tuchel, then Lampard replaced Potter. Does that mean Frank is now safe? Doesn't look like it.
This is one of the things that make football rather unique – every movement is under the watchful eye of die-hard fans, analysts, and reporters.
Last but not least are the continental championships. Domestic Cups are not exclusively related to football, but when it comes to continental matches, only basketball can come close if one could say that.
Of course, we're talking about the UEFA CL, CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores, as well as the Champion Leagues in North America, Africa, and Asia.
A passionate fan, a neutral follower, or a newbie bettor – football is the sport that creates the bond. Regardless if you're following all the stats, getting excited about the upcoming transfer window, preparing to buy your first stadium ticket, or watching the game on TV – football is your sport.
An in-depth look at the biggest football attendances ever recorded, from the 1950 World Cup to pre-season friendlies in the States and the Scottish ground with dozens of 100,000+ attendances
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
Taking my son to his first football match was one of the best experiences I've had as a father so far. I've written this article for Alex to read when he gets older.
23 interesting things to do to pass the time until the football season restarts
