The 8 Most Popular Sports in Thailand
The Most Popular Sports in Thailand in 2025 - The Sporting Blog’s Rankings
Thailand is passionate about sports. Football packs out provincial grounds, Muay Thai is embedded in local culture, badminton stars headline global rankings, and women’s volleyball commands prime-time attention.
But what are the most popular sports in Thailand? The Sporting Blog tells all…
Muay Thai is one of the most popular traditional sports in Thailand
Let’s take a closer look at the most popular sports in Thailand. Which sports do Thais watch and play the most in 2025?
1. Football
Football has the widest footprint by clubs, leagues and weekly attention. Thai League 1 tracks sizeable attendance numbers across 16 clubs.
Recent seasons have recorded six-figure aggregate attendances and averages in the mid-thousands per match, with crowds peaking above 30,000 during big fixtures. This is useful context for scale in a 70 million-person nation.
Read more about international football on our football blog
On the governance and national-team side, Thailand is known for its technical leadership, squad quality and competition records.
Futsal, also administered by FIFA, is a Thai audience magnet in its own right. FIFA’s futsal rankings placed Thailand’s men 10th globally ahead of the 2024 Futsal World Cup cycle, underscoring a deep, sustained base for the small-sided game.
Why football ranks #1: The combination of a nationwide club pyramid, strong futsal pedigree and consistent attendance data keeps football at the top of the list by participation and weekly engagement.
2. Muay Thai
A traditional Thai martial art and combat sport, Muay Thai is Thailand’s cultural cornerstone. It’s also recognised by the International Olympic Committee under the International Federation of Muay Thai Associations (IFMA).
The IFMA charts rapid global expansion for the sport, including member federations, athlete safety programmes and event participation.
Thailand’s government also positions Muay Thai within national development plans. That dual track - elite and cultural - helps explain the sport’s unmatched gym density and live-event cadence in Bangkok and tourist hubs.
At the policy level, Thailand’s recent “Sports Promotion for National Development” alignment for Muay Thai is documented by the IFMA, reflecting state-backed pathways for youth, women and international hosting. This gives Muay Thai a participation reach that extends well beyond televised stadium cards.
Why Muay Thai ranks #2: Unparalleled cultural status plus institutional backing by the IFMA and domestic authorities. The sport also has a year-round competition calendar.
Looking for more? Check out our guide to Asian sports - where tradition meets competition!
3. Badminton
Thailand is a badminton hotbed, with marquee events like the Thailand Open and the Thailand Masters, as well as a slew of world-class athletes.
In 2025, Reuters confirmed Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn as men’s singles world No. 1 during the summer swing. This followed a run that included titles in the Asian Championships, the Thailand Open and the Singapore Open.
Vitidsarn’s season also featured headline matches at the World Championships, including a silver in Paris. On a domestic level, the Badminton Association of Thailand maintains sanctioned calendars and ranking infrastructure, demonstrating a broad club and junior ecosystem feeding the elite pipeline.
Badminton is also one of the most popular sports in India.
Why badminton ranks #3: Consistent elite success, plus a dense national competition structure and regular world-tour hosting, show the power of Thai badminton.
4. Volleyball (Indoor and Beach)
Volleyball, particularly women’s volleyball, is one of Thailand’s most-watched team sports.
The national team’s competitive status is tracked in the official Volleyball World ranking system, updated daily after internationals. The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) documents Thailand’s major continental milestones and frequent hosting duties.
Thailand won the Asian women’s title on home soil in 2023, part of a multi-year run that keeps the sport in prime-time conversations.
The AVC also shows Thailand’s regular involvement in confederation governance and beach volleyball activity, much of it headquartered or convened in Bangkok, another driver of visibility and participation.
Why volleyball ranks #4: Repeat international relevance, regular hosting and a strong media profile around the women’s programme all show why volleyball continues to gain popularity in Thailand - and around the world.
5. Sepak Takraw
Sepak takraw is a Southeast Asian speciality! It combines elements from sports like football, volleyball and acrobatics to create a fast-paced and highly competitive activity.
Thailand is historically dominant in sepak takraw. The Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) official news documented twin Regu golds for Thailand at the 31st SEA Games, one of numerous titles across regional takraw cycles.
That sustained success keeps takraw prominent in schools and provincial teams. At the continental multi-sport level, OCA result hubs show Thailand’s takraw squads as perennial medal threats, reinforcing the sport’s domestic standing.
Why sepak takraw ranks #5: Thailand remains dominant in sepak takraw, with regional institutional pathways from school to national teams.
6. Futsal
Futsal as a game enjoys strong grassroots and national-team followings in Thailand. The country hosted and appeared at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024 final, with impressive futsal venue operations, match data and tactical trends in Bangkok and further afield.
Thailand’s 2024 run in Asia also secured its participation in the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Hosting and qualifying cycles keep futsal in the spotlight between Thai League weekends and national-team football windows.
Why futsal ranks #6: Recent hosting responsibilities and large audience interest make Thailand a strong futsal contender on a domestic and international level.
7. Running and Road Races
Mass-participation road running has surged in popularity across Thailand, anchored by Bangkok’s signature events.
The Bangkok Marathon publishes official results across distances, while the Amazing Thailand Marathon (co-sanctioned with race-timing partners) lists live entries and finishers.
Participation numbers are in the tens of thousands across 5K, 10K, half and full distances. All of these city-scale races generate large fields and sustained training groups, adding year-round participation beyond single-day events.
Why running ranks #7: More and more people are getting involved in running as a sport, with big events drawing huge crowds and regular participants.
8. Golf
Thailand’s Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) era has deepened golf’s popularity across the country, especially among women. The LPGA confirms Ariya Jutanugarn’s 12 LPGA wins and two majors.
Wire reports for 2025 also tracked Thai stars like Atthaya Thitikul, who regularly contended in majors and reclaimed world No.1 status during the season. This consistency raises broadcast interest and junior sign-ups.
Why golf ranks #8: Frequent Thai winners at the highest level and a well-developed junior/academy scene that successfully feeds Thailand’s professional tours.
What are the Most Popular Sports in Thailand?
Thailand’s sporting landscape is broad, but it has clear leaders. Football dominates weekly attention, bolstered by robust futsal rankings, while Muay Thai retains an unmatched cultural status.
All of these sports have a few things in common. They are popular with people at all levels, from school children to elite athletes.
They all drive government initiatives and encourage the population to take an active role in their health, fitness and everyday well-being!
Do you play any of these sports? Have you ever tried a traditional Thai sport like sepak takraw or Muay Thai? Tell us in the comments.
