List of Countries and their National Games in the World

National Games of Different Countries are important for competitive exams. Check the List of National Games of Different Countries along with a description of the games.

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A national game is a sport or physical activity that is considered an intrinsic part of a country’s cultural heritage and identity. It is often a sport that is played or followed by a significant portion of the population and is usually associated with that country’s history, values, and traditions.

National Games of Different Countries

National games can be seen as a way of uniting people across a nation, as they can provide a shared interest and passion that transcends social, economic, and cultural differences. It can also be a source of pride and accomplishment for a nation, as national teams and athletes compete on the world stage and represent their country on an international level. While some national games are widely played and recognized around the world, others may be relatively unknown outside their country of origin. Examples of well-known national sports include football (soccer) in many countries, cricket in India, and baseball in Japan.

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Football is the National Game of which Country

Football is the National Sport of France and Haiti, while Brazil is globally famous for football. France has the most popular sports with a strong history of winning the FIFA World Cup multiple times (1998 and 2018).

Cricket is the National Game of which Country

Cricket is the national sport in several countries, particularly in the Commonwealth nations and the Caribbean. England is the Birthplace of cricket. Where in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, and Jamaica, cricket is central to the culture, with these nations forming part of the West Indies team and producing legendary cricketers. Australia also has a strong international presence as a major sport.

Table tennis is the National Game of which Country

Table tennis is the national sport of China, although it has not been officially declared a National Sport. The country has a rich history in the sport, and Chinese players have consistently won at the World Table Tennis Championships and the Olympics, dominating international competitions for decades.

List of National Games of Different Countries

Here is an exhaustive List of Countries and their National Games.

S. No	Country	National Game	Other Important Games	Description
1	Afghanistan	Buzkashi	Cricket, football, boxing & basketball	A horse-mounted game where players compete to grab a goat carcass and bring it to a goal.
2	Antigua and Barbuda	Cricket	Football	A bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
3	Argentina	Pato	Association football, Basketball, Rugby union	A horse-mounted game where players try to score goals by putting a ball through a vertical hoop.
4	Australia	Cricket	Australian Rules Football (AFL), Rugby, Horse Racing, Netball	A bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
5	Bangladesh	Kabaddi	Cricket & football	Contact sport where two teams of seven players each try to tag and tackle each other while chanting “Kabaddi”.
6	Barbados	Cricket	Football, Golf, Tennis	The bat-and-ball game is where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
7	Bermuda	Cricket	Football, Rugby and Tennis	A bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
8	Bhutan	Archery	Basketball, football, futsal	A sport where archers shoot arrows at targets while dressed in traditional Bhutanese attire.
9	Brazil	Capoeira	Volleyball and Basketball	A martial art that combines dance, acrobatics, and music.
10	Bulgaria	Weightlifting	Gymnastics, Rowing, Biathlon and Cricket	Strength sport is where athletes lift heavy weights in two different styles: snatch and clean and jerk.
11	Canada	Ice hockey	Football, Golf, basketball and baseball	Contact sport where two teams of six players each skate on ice and try to shoot a puck into the opponent’s goal.
12	Chile	Chilean rodeo	Tennis and football	Rodeo sport where two riders on horseback try to stop a calf and pin it against a cushioned wall.
13	China	Ping Pong	Volleyball, Martial Arts, Shooting, Badminton	Table tennis sport where two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth over a small net.
14	Cuba	Baseball	Boxing, Volleyball, Basketball	A bat-and-ball game where two teams of nine players each take turns to bat and field.
15	Columbia	Tejo	Target sport where players throw metal discs at a board rigged with explosives.
16	Czech Republic	Ice Hockey	Football	Contact sport where two teams of six players each skate on ice and try to shoot a puck into the opponent’s goal.
17	Dominican Republic	Baseball	Football and Boxing	The bat-and-ball game is where two teams of nine players each take turns to bat and field.
18	England	Cricket	Football, Rugby and Basketball	The bat-and-ball game is where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
19	France	Football	Rugby, Motor Sports and tennis	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
20	Haiti	Soccer	–	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
21	Hungary	Water Polo	–	Water sports where two teams of seven players each try to throw a ball into the opponent’s goal while treading water.
22	India	Hockey (Not the official game, but a recognised sport in India)	Cricket, badminton, kabaddi	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by hitting a ball into the opponent’s net with a curved stick.
23	Israel	Football	Basketball, Swimming, canoeing	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
24	Italy	Football	–	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
25	Indonesia	Badminton	–	Racquet sport where two or four players hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a high net.
26	Lithuania	Basketball	Football, Athletics, Cycling	Team sport where two teams of five players each try to shoot a ball into the opponent’s basket.
27	Iran	Wrestling	Polo, football	Combat sport where two wrestlers try to throw or pin each other to the ground.
28	Jamaica	Cricket	Association football, Athletics	The bat-and-ball game where two teams of eleven players each take turns to bat and field.
29	Japan	Sumo Wrestling	Ju-Jitsu (Martial Arts), Baseball, Football	Combat sport is where two wrestlers try to push each other out of a circular ring or force each other to touch the ground with a body part.
30	Malaysia	Sepak Takraw	–	Team sport is where players kick a rattan ball over a high net using any part of their body except their hands and arms.
31	Mongolia	Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse riding	Football, Basketball	Combat sport where two wrestlers try to throw each other to the ground or force each other out of a circular ring; a sport where archers shoot arrows at a target from horseback; an equestrian sport where riders race each other on horseback.
32	Mauritius	Football	Athletics, Basketball, Badminton	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
33	Mexico	Charreria	Association football and Boxing	The rodeo-style equestrian sport where participants demonstrate their skills in various events such as roping, bull riding, and steer wrestling.
34	Nepal	Dandi Biyo	Cricket, football	Game where players use a small stick to hit a larger stick and send it flying into the air, then hit it again before it touches the ground.
35	New Zealand	Rugby	Cricket, Netball, Basketball, Golf, Tennis	Contact sport where two teams of fifteen players each try to score points by carrying, passing, and kicking an oval-shaped ball into the opponent’s goal area.
36	Norway	Cross-country skiing	Wrestling, Cycling, Shooting	Winter sport where skiers race across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles.
37	Namibia	Rugby	Football, Netball	Contact sport where two teams of fifteen players each try to score points by carrying, passing, and kicking an oval-shaped ball into the opponent’s goal area.
38	Pakistan	Field Hockey	Cricket, Kabaddi, Squash, Snooker	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by hitting a ball into the opponent’s net with a curved stick.
39	Philippines	Arnis	Basketball, Badminton, boxing	Martial art and sport where participants use sticks, knives, and empty hands to strike and defend against opponents.
40	Poland	Football	–	Contact sport where two teams of eleven players each try to score goals by kicking a ball into the opponent’s net.
41	Peru	Paleta Frontón	–	Racquet sport where players hit a ball against a wall using their hand or a paddle-like racket.
42	Puerto Rico	Paso Fino	–	Equestrian sport where riders show off the smooth, natural gait of the Paso Fino horse.
43	Russia	Bandy	Chess, football, Basketball, Gymnastics	Team sport where players use sticks to hit a ball into the opponent’s goal, played on ice with a ball instead of a puck.
44	Scotland	Golf	Tennis, Rugby	Sport where players use clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes on a course, using the fewest number of strokes possible.
45	Serbia	Football, basketball, volleyball, and water polo	–	Serbia’s most popular sports include football, basketball, volleyball, and water polo. Football is the most popular sport, with basketball being a close second.
46	Slovenia	Alpine Skiing	Ski Jumping, Athletics, Basketball and Boxing	Alpine skiing is a popular sport in Slovenia due to the country’s mountainous terrain.
47	South Korea	Tae-kwon-do	Football and Basketball	Tae-kwon-do is a traditional Korean martial art that is widely practiced and enjoyed as a sport in South Korea.
48	Sri Lanka	Volleyball	Cricket, badminton, Watersports	Volleyball is a popular sport in Sri Lanka and is played both recreationally and competitively.
49	Switzerland	Shooting and Gymnastics	Football and Ice Hockey	Switzerland has a strong tradition of shooting sports, and gymnastics is also a popular sport in the country.
50	Tajikistan	Gushtigiri- type of wrestling	–	Gushtigiri is a traditional form of wrestling in Tajikistan that is still practiced today.
51	Turkey	Oil wrestling	Soccer, Basketball, VolleyBall	Oil wrestling is a traditional Turkish sport that has been practiced for centuries.
52	USA	Baseball	Football, Ice Hockey, Golf, Tennis	Baseball is a popular sport in the United States, with a long and storied history.
53	Uruguay	Destrezas Criollas	–	Destrezas Criollas is a traditional Uruguayan sport that involves horse riding and other rural skills.
54	Venezuela	Baseball	Football	Baseball is a popular sport in Venezuela, and the country has produced many successful professional players.

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Countries and their National Games FAQs

What is the national sport of each country?

It is not possible to provide the national sport of each country as not all countries have an officially declared national sport. However, some countries do have popular sports that are considered to be their de facto national sport.