Sport in the United Kingdom

Commonly known as Great Britain or the UK, the United Kingdom is one of the most populated states in the world. Athletes from this region sometimes compete as the United Kingdom or Great Britain, and othertimes they represent their home country of England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

Rugby is a popular sport throughout the UK

The United Kingdom is home to many sports like golf, cricket, rugby, boxing but none so as football. Jacques Rogge, IOC President was once quoted saying "This great, sports-loving country is widely recognized as the birthplace of modern sport. It was here that the concepts of sportsmanship and fair play were first codified into clear rules and regulations. It was here that sport was included as an educational tool in the school curriculum".

UK is recognized by many governing bodies, including FIFA, as the birthplace of modern football with rules dating back as far as 1863. The UK also is the home of the most watched football league in the whole world, the Premier League. They also participated in the first-ever international match where they played against Scotland on November 30, 1872.

Although football seems to run in every English vein, there are also a lot of sports that flourish in the UK. Rugby union is ranked as the second most popular sport in the UK. The first-ever international rugby match was also between England and Scotland which took place on March 27, 1871.

Cricket was actually invented in England with laws that were set way back in 1788 by the Marylebone Cricket Club. England was also the birthplace of modern day tennis. Understandably, the world's oldest tennis tournament, the Wimbledon championship, was first held in England in 1877. The "Sports of Kings", thoroughbred racing, also originated in England and many motorsport teams and drivers who compete in Formula One also call the UK home.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to the United Kingdom, including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See also the list the most popular internet searches for "sports" in the UK.

For even more details see the individual pages for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Popular sports of the UK (see more)

football (Soccer), cricket, netball, field hockey, rugby union, rugby league

Regional or Traditional Sports of the UK

Stoolball — a team sport played on a circular grass field, possibly the precursor to cricket and baseball.

UK Sporting Successes

England won the 1966 FIFA World Cup
England won the 2010 T20 World Cup

Great athletes from the UK

David Beckham (football)
Tim Henman (tennis)
Sebastian Coe (athletics)
Roger Bannister (athletics)

the UK Sports trivia

London was awarded the 1944 Games, but due to the ongoing WWII it was not held.

the UK at major events

Great Britain at the Summer Olympics
the UK at the Winter Olympics
At the Commonwealth Games: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
At the FIFA World Cup: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
At the Cricket World Cup: England, Scotland, Ireland
At the Rugby World Cup: England, Scotland and Wales
England women's football team at the FIFA Women's World Cup
At the Netball World Cup: England, Scotland and Wales
UK at the Baseball World Classic

Past sporting events hosted in the UK

Olympic Games Summer Hosts in 1908 London, 1948 London
1911 British Empire Games London
1934 British Empire Games London
1958 Commonwealth Games Cardiff
1966 FIFA World Cup England
1970 Commonwealth Games Edinburgh
1984 Paralympic Games in New York & Stoke Mandeville
1986 Commonwealth Games Edinburgh
1991 Rugby World Cup hosted in UK and France
1999 Rugby World Cup Wales
Cricket World Cup, England 1975, 1979, 1983, 1999
2001 Men's World Boxing Championships in Belfast
2002 Commonwealth Games Manchester
2012 London Olympics
2012 Paralympic Games in London
2014 Commonwealth Games Glasgow, Scotland
2014 Invictus Games
2015 Rugby World Cup England
2017 World Athletic Championships, London
2019 Cricket World Cup, England

Upcoming sporting events in the UK

2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
2024 UEFA Champions League Final, Wembley Stadium, London
2030 T20 Cricket World Cup in England, Ireland and Scotland

Annual sporting events held in the UK

British Open (golf) - usually held in England and Scotland, and rarely in Northern Ireland
Wimbledon Championship (tennis)
London Marathon
FA Cup
Super League (rugby league)