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Top 10 Countries with the Most Registered Soccer Players

Which countries have the most football players that are currently playing in a club?
As of 2006. Source: FIFA
Quiz by Quizzer6794
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Last updated: December 21, 2017
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First submittedMarch 29, 2017
Times taken50,666
Average score70.0%
Rating4.01
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#
Country
6,309,000
Germany
4,187,000
United States
2,142,000
Brazil
1,795,000
France
1,514,000
Italy
1,486,000
England
1,469,000
South Africa
1,139,000
Netherlands
1,045,000
Japan
866,000
Canada
mattchoi
+31
Level 71
Dec 21, 2017
It's funny that all of these countries have more registered soccer players than the population of Iceland that is heading to the world cup.
Jorissie
+13
Level 89
Mar 6, 2018
Eventually you can only take 23. So it doesn't matter that much.
PatrickLawrence
+22
Level 33
Apr 27, 2018
It does matter though. 23 out of 100,000 for example is not as selective as 23 out of 10 million or 100 million or even a billion
jmellor13
+21
Level 67
Apr 27, 2018
I have always been perplexed why India isn't more competitive on the world stage. I know there is a lot of poverty there, but one would think that with a billion people, you could field a competitive team of 23 guys (or a few solid singles tennis players or swimmers or something). They're good at cricket and badminton, so it can't just be a lack of athletic talent. I'm sure the reason is much more complicated than I could guess, but it always struck me odd.
BatistaDamin
+3
Level 73
Apr 27, 2018
Yeah, sometimes I think that too. It should be a sport's powerhouse. I feel the same about Mexico, even though it has a much smaller population.
HinesBrothers
+5
Level 75
Nov 25, 2018
Lack of interest in soccer
RoCce
+8
Level 60
Oct 8, 2020
It's primarily because of our culture. About 98% or more parents do not want their kids to do something that does not have job security and sporting events are the biggest example of this. I have friends who were exemplary in sports in high school, but did not pursue a career because no one supports him/her. The parents don't, the school doesn't, no clubs support it, so it just turns out the motivation. I remember my mom always saying to me, "It's not supposed to be for you. God has selected and given a select few extraordinary talents in their birth and you don't have it", every time I wanted to go further, or even choose a field of employment that is not medical, or engineering or a civil servant.
bxtterflyfx
+2
Level 72
Jun 26, 2021
Indian parents would never let their kids play sports. Its more about having job security and having a white collar job
reegis
+1
Level 66
Dec 9, 2022
What is really notable too is the lack of British Indian, Pakistani etc. professional footballers. The sport is huge here of course - South Asians make up around 10% of the population in England yet they are virtually non-existent in top level football. A lot of it can no doubt be explained by parental expectations and pressures like people have said, but even so you would think there would be at least be some level of representation...I've always found it quite baffling.
Balkanija
+2
Level 32
Apr 8, 2019
Germany and USA have more registreted playera than country that has been on the final 2018. has citizens.
Algernon
+19
Level 72
Dec 21, 2017
Resisting the temptation to suggest you change "soccer" to 'football' given that's what it's known as in the vast majority of the world.

I guess on here the vast majority of members are American and may click on a 'football' quiz expecting it to be about American football.

mrnafe
+10
Level 82
Dec 21, 2017
It doesn't really matter what it's called though? We all know what it means
TenThousand
+7
Level 76
Apr 27, 2018
56% of Jetpunk activity is outside the United States, so probably "football" would be more accurate on every front. Still, Quizzer is from the US so we won't hold this against him.
tschutzer
+2
Level 91
Apr 27, 2018
Just curious, but how do you know?
anna0kear
+2
Level 36
Apr 29, 2018
Does Canada make up more than 6 percent?
kshanti
+5
Level 61
Apr 27, 2018
Plus soccer refers to Association Football. So even the hardliners are calling it Football without knowing it. ;-)
Turtlescantalk
+6
Level 48
Apr 27, 2018
In Ireland we call it soccer too because we have Gaelic football.
Majic
+6
Level 43
Jan 31, 2018
That's the only stats on football that USA have chance to be at the top.
halpie
+8
Level 77
Apr 27, 2018
You should check out the FIFA rankings for women's soccer. Who's ranked first? And maybe watch the last women's World Cup. Who won that again?
Eigengrau
+3
Level 60
Apr 27, 2018
He meant in the "men's" category.
Ranger1633
+1
Level 45
Feb 25, 2020
He Mean Mens Category Duh!
Moeilijk
+2
Level 61
Jun 22, 2023
People watch the womens world cup?
tooch21
+2
Level 55
Aug 14, 2023
And who lost to Sweden in round 16 in the 2023 women's world cup? Some powerhouse team they were meant to be.
ReyFer
+8
Level 64
Apr 27, 2018
No Spain? wow
ReyFer
+3
Level 64
Apr 27, 2018
according to the Spanish federation only 700k licenses.
dsaved
+4
Level 67
Apr 27, 2018
That would mean that 7.8% of the entire German population and about 6,7% of the Dutch population is registered as football players. Elders, infants and all. These figures look a bit suspect, but it wouldn't be the first time.
Vollkorntoast
+3
Level 33
Apr 27, 2018
I can say that basically all Boys under the age of 18 (Okay, not all...But many)are or have been in a Football Club at some Point in their life. I live in a very small town with only 3000 citizens but we still have a Football Club with over 200 members. I'm actually serious, Football is so huge here... Still, I think that the numbers are too high for Germany and that our small town may be an exception.
Gigalol12
+2
Level 55
Apr 27, 2018
I disagree. In my country even (Serbia) even though football is very popular maybe 10% of all children have been in a football club. Basketball and Volleyball are much more popular at least in my country
CraftBananaDuty
+2
Level 37
Jan 4, 2019
yeah thats why Serbia is the best basketball country outside of the USA.

I'm Dutch and a basketball fan as well (a rare thing here) but even i, from a basketball family, played football until college.

A lot of kids play football not only cause they love the sport but rather cause their parents want them to make friends and stuff.

Vollkorntoast
+4
Level 33
Apr 27, 2018
Yeah, but Serbia is not Germany.
leannevz
+3
Level 55
Dec 26, 2018
I live in the Netherlands and a looot of boys (and some girls) have been a part of a football club as a child. It is the most popular sport here I think.
Carry
+1
Level 63
Feb 19, 2020
I know it seems like a lot but I don't doubt that number for Germany for a second. Every little town really has their own club. The German Football Association (DFB) says there's 25000 (!) clubs. And there are so many different leagues: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bundesliga, several youth leagues, 2 women leagues.
teke
+2
Level 65
Apr 27, 2018
I wrote "UK" and it appeared as England in the answer. UK is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Is the figure for England or the UK?

Malbaby
+2
Level 71
Apr 27, 2018
I would imagine the figures given are for England F.A., ....... Scotland has it's own F.A. as does Northern Ireland and Wales. I also imagine that the quiz setter made UK available as an answer (although England is shown) to make life easier for those that can't figure out the UK countries situation. These numbers are registered players only see .......http://www.thefa.com/news/2015/jun/10/11-million-playing-football-in-england
omnikin
+3
Level 59
Apr 27, 2018
Surprised for Canada. Fun fact, I'm Canadian
cornflakesfu
+3
Level 86
Apr 27, 2018
China and India together have about 36% of the world's population but less than 1% of its soccer players, according to FIFA.
cafrance1089
+2
Level 66
Apr 27, 2018
A lot harder than I thought
kiwiquizzer
+2
Level 68
Apr 28, 2018
I actually found it easier than I thought! Might have fluked it though.
kalbahamut
+2
Level 82
Apr 27, 2018
is a club like a professional soccer team registered with FIFA?
camus
+2
Level 78
May 2, 2018
There are many clubs with amateur teams that play in lower or regional leagues. I guess they are registered with each country's Football Association, which in turn are part of FIFA.
QRU
+2
Level 74
Aug 19, 2018
Depending on the country, it's a pretty subsidiaric system. If a team plays in a regional league, it's registered in the regional FA. If it goes up to a i.e. statewide league, it has to registere at the state FA. If it goes up to the national level, it has to registere at the national FA. The borders between professional, semiprofessional and amateur teams are fluent.
Clement445
+2
Level 37
May 27, 2020
I'm surprised South Africa is ahead of Nigeria.
Mfundo
+1
Level 35
Nov 24, 2020
I wonder why you did not put Spain, a nation of the most UEFA Champions league champions and Nigeria a nation of most of Africa's all-time great players ahead of Canada,Japan and USA
nerdalert
+2
Level 85
Aug 9, 2021
Oh, I think I know the answer. It's because they didn't have as many registered soccer players.
RSGenius25
+1
Level 36
Mar 25, 2021
Part of the 9.9% of people who got 100%
MfundoNkambule
+1
Level 36
Jul 11, 2022
Spain is missing
FootballMaster19
+1
Level 36
Mar 20, 2023
how is there south africa and not spain
Barroszt
+1
Level 15
Aug 18, 2023
Please update this quiz.
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Sep 19, 2023
It can't be updated. FIFA hasn't done another Big Count since 2006.
Moeilijk
+1
Level 61
Oct 16, 2023
Amazing how South Africa has 1.4 million (probably more now) footballers. A country I never would've guessed.
MCdoesgeography
+1
Level 69
Nov 24, 2023
GERMAN CLUB FETISHISM STRIKES AGAIN RAAAAAAH🇩🇪🗣️🔥
ArhaanAboii2010
+1
Level 36
Dec 1, 2023
Got it in the last second!
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