The Most Popular Sports in France and Where to Invest in 2025

What is the most popular sport in France today — and where to invest tomorrow?
Let’s decode the trends shaping the French sports landscape — from national disciplines to fast-growing emerging sports.

Why analyze search trends related to sport?

Search behavior is one of the most honest reflections of public interest. While surveys reveal intentions, search data shows what people truly want — in real time.
Every query typed into Google leaves a trace, a clue about what someone wants to try, learn, watch, or experience.

In sport, this data is incredibly valuable. It reveals which disciplines are gaining visibility, which ones are losing traction, and which are suddenly booming. From urban sports and outdoor activities to niche Olympic events, search volume is a powerful early indicator — long before ticket sales or club registrations catch up.

Anticipating momentum before it hits the field

Analyzing search behavior allows you to anticipate rather than follow. Whether you’re investing, building public infrastructure, launching a venue, or rolling out a brand campaign, knowing what people are already searching for gives you a decisive advantage.

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What Are the Most Popular Sports in France?

Over the past two years:

• Football and rugby top the charts, with rugby reaching over 14.5 million searches, confirming its cultural significance and strong emotional appeal, especially during international events.
• Mountain biking (12.8M) and boating (12.5M) follow, highlighting a growing appetite for outdoor, post-COVID activities tied to freedom and escape.
• Polo is surprisingly strong with over 10 million searches, reflecting lasting appeal for exclusivity and elegance.
• Tennis remains a classic favorite (9.9M).
• Quad biking (9.5M) and karting (7.2M) confirm strong interest in recreational leisure.
• Fitness centers and football both hold steady at 8.3M.
• Biathlon (8.1M) and bowling (7.1M) round out a diverse landscape that spans tradition, fun, and adrenaline.

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Which Sports Are Growing the Fastest?

Some disciplines are seeing explosive growth:

• Rugby sevens: +6279%, driven by Olympic exposure, urban formats, and youth engagement.
• Boating (nautisme): +1943%, reflecting the rise of sustainable, water-based leisure.
• Boccia: +651%, boosted by inclusion and Paralympic narratives.
• Pickleball: +379%, now one of the fastest-growing urban sports.

Other fast risers include:
Sport fishing (+241%), flag football (+224%), pole vault (+216%), table tennis (+195%).
Bodybuilding, basketball, and padel all show strong momentum at +119% each.

These aren’t passing fads — they reflect lasting changes in how sports are practiced, socialized, and monetized.

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Which Sports Should You Invest In?

Three disciplines stand out for their high investment potential, each at a different stage of maturity:

1. Pickleball: booming and scalable

• 68,000 searches over 6 months, +379% in two years.
• Already more popular than padel in the UK.
• Accessible, fun, and easy to deploy — ideal for urban venues and scalable business models.

2. Sport Fishing: slow but steady shift

• +241% growth, 3,750 monthly searches.
• Reflects a lifestyle rooted in sustainability and nature.
• Investing here means creating experiences and building destination value.

3. Padel: mature but still growing

• 255,000 searches in 6 months, +119% growth.
• Competitive market, but strong fundamentals: developing infrastructure, loyal users, and clear monetization paths.

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Legal Notice

Investing in the sports sector involves risks and should always be backed by market research, local dynamics, and expert advice.