Soccer is the biggest game on the planet, both in terms of fan support and how widely it’s played. Even so, its popularity isn’t consistent across every country.
Kenya and South Africa provide a good example of the variation in soccer’s success as a global sport. Here are the figures that matter in showing which nation loves the beautiful game the most.
The Soccer Fandom showdown
Of a population of around 54 million, 45% of Kenyans self-identify as soccer fans, according to data from Country Cassette. That equates to around 24 million people regularly viewing and participating in the sport.
On the other hand, South Africa’s 70% support across its 60 million or so residents leaves the country with 42 million fans. That’s quite a gap, although the picture is a little more complex than it seems at first.
The National Game & League Divide
An interesting split exists in South Africa and Kenya regarding how soccer popularity plays out. Chiefly, this comes down to which leagues locals follow, whether domestic or international.
South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) is well-supported, meaning that citizens who love the sport don’t necessarily need to look overseas for big-hitting teams. They’ve got the likes of Mamelodi Sundowns FC to keep their attention. Likewise, there’s a well-established online gambling scene in SA, and placing soccer bets on domestic or international teams brings even more engagement with the game.
Conversely, the Kenyan Premier League has more difficulty garnering domestic support. The prime problem here is that the English Premier League (EPL) and big teams within it like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool, have monopolised a lot of attention. There’s still homegrown support and local talent that matters on the international stage, with the likes of Joseph Okumu and Michael Olunga making their mark.
Both countries have national soccer teams, of course, although success in international tournaments has largely eluded them. South Africa’s 60th position in FIFA’s current world rankings, and Kenya’s 111th position, reflect this.
Sporting Prowess Expressed Elsewhere
The popularity of soccer in Kenya and South Africa is clear, even if there’s a gulf between them. And it’s important to note that there are other sports that fill this role.
Kenya’s supremacy in athletics, particularly distance running, is the most noteworthy. Meanwhile, there’s South Africa’s domination in rugby union, where it currently sits at the top of World Rugby’s rankings.
It’s entirely possible for people to be fans of more than one sport, of course. But the fact that Kenya and South Africa both have more conspicuous success outside of Football perhaps explains why football fandom is well behind other parts of the world, like Brazil’s 90% saturation level.
The Last Word on Soccer’s Popularity
It’s unlikely that soccer will be dethroned as a top sport in either Kenya or South Africa. A combination of its simplicity, accessibility, and the amount of funding it receives ensures that new generations are drawn to it. Success on the global stage will catalyse this even further, and South Africa’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup could be just such a flashpoint.
