Countries and their National Games:- National games are an integral part of a country’s cultural identity, often reflecting its history, traditions, and values. While some nations have officially declared national sports, others have popular games that are widely recognized as symbolic of the country. These sports not only unite citizens through shared passion but also play a significant role in promoting national pride on the global stage. From football in Brazil to cricket in Australia, each game holds a unique place in shaping the sporting legacy of a nation. Check out the Countries and their National Games from the below article.
Countries and Their National Games 2024
You might have heard that hockey is the national game of India, but that’s a misconception. According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, India does not officially have a national sport. Hockey was often regarded as one due to India’s dominance between 1928 and 1956, a period when the Indian team secured 8 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals in the Olympics. Check out the Countries and Their National Games list below.
Countries and Their National Games
Check out the Countries and Their National Games from the below table:-
| Country | National Game(s) | Other Important Games |
| Afghanistan | Buzkashi (DeFacto) | Cricket, football, boxing, basketball |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Cricket (DeFacto) | Football |
| Argentina | Pato (DeJure – 1953) | Association football, basketball, rugby union |
| Australia | Cricket (DeFacto) | Australian Rules Football (AFL), rugby, horse racing, netball |
| Bangladesh | Kabaddi (DeJure – 1972) | Cricket, football |
| Barbados | Cricket (DeFacto) | Football, golf, tennis |
| Bermuda | Cricket (DeFacto) | Football, rugby, tennis |
| Bhutan | Archery (DeJure – 1971) | Basketball, football, futsal |
| Brazil | Capoeira (DeJure – 1972) | Volleyball, basketball |
| Bulgaria | Weightlifting (DeFacto) | Gymnastics, rowing, biathlon, cricket |
| Canada | Ice hockey (Winter), Lacrosse (Summer) (DeJure – 1994) | Football, golf, basketball, baseball |
| Chile | Chilean rodeo (DeJure – 1962) | Tennis, football |
| China | Ping Pong (Table Tennis) (DeFacto) | Volleyball, martial arts, shooting, badminton |
| Cuba | Baseball (DeFacto) | Boxing, volleyball, basketball |
| Columbia | Tejo (DeJure – 2000) | – |
| Czech Republic | Ice Hockey (DeFacto) | Football |
| Dominican Republic | Baseball (DeFacto) | Football, boxing |
| England | Cricket (DeFacto) | Football, rugby, basketball |
| France | Football (DeFacto) | Rugby, motor sports, tennis |
| Haiti | Soccer (DeFacto) | – |
| Hungary | Water Polo (DeFacto) | – |
| India | Field Hockey (DeFacto) (Undeclared) | Cricket, badminton, kabaddi |
| Israel | Football (DeFacto) | Basketball, swimming, canoeing |
| Italy | Football (DeFacto) | – |
| Indonesia | Badminton (DeFacto) | – |
| Lithuania | Basketball (DeFacto) | Football, athletics, cycling |
| Iran | Wrestling (DeFacto) | Polo, football |
| Jamaica | Cricket (DeFacto) | Association football, athletics |
| Japan | Sumo Wrestling (DeFacto) | Ju-Jitsu (martial arts), baseball, football |
| Malaysia | Sepak Takraw (DeFacto) | – |
| Mongolia | Mongolian wrestling, archery, horse riding (DeFacto) | Football, basketball |
| Mauritius | Football (DeFacto) | Athletics, basketball, badminton |
| Mexico | Charreria (DeJure – 1933) | Association football, boxing |
| Nepal | Dandi Biyo (Until 2017), Volleyball (DeJure – 2017) | Cricket, football |
| New Zealand | Rugby (DeFacto) | Cricket, netball, basketball, golf, tennis |
| Norway | Cross-country skiing (DeFacto) | Wrestling, cycling, shooting |
| Namibia | Rugby (DeJure – 2018) | Football, netball |
| Pakistan | Field Hockey (DeFacto) | Cricket, kabaddi, squash, snooker |
| Philippines | Arnis (DeJure – 2009) | Basketball, badminton, boxing |
| Poland | Football (DeFacto) | – |
| Peru | Paleta Frontón (DeFacto) | – |
| Puerto Rico (USA) | Paso Fino (DeJure – 1966) | – |
| Russia | Bandy (DeFacto) | Chess, football, basketball, gymnastics |
| Scotland | Golf (DeFacto) | Tennis, rugby |
| Serbia | Football, basketball, volleyball, water polo (DeFacto) | – |
| Slovenia | Alpine skiing (DeFacto) | Ski jumping, athletics, basketball, boxing |
| South Korea | Tae-kwon-do (DeJure – 2018) | Football, basketball |
| Sri Lanka | Volleyball (DeFacto) | Cricket, badminton, watersports |
| Switzerland | Shooting, gymnastics (DeFacto) | Football, ice hockey |
| Tajikistan | Gushtigiri (DeFacto) | – |
| Turkey | Oil wrestling (DeFacto) | Soccer, basketball, volleyball |
| USA | Baseball (DeFacto) | Football, ice hockey, golf, tennis |
| Uruguay | Destrezas Criollas (DeJure – 2006) | – |
| Venezuela | Baseball (DeFacto) | Football |
Important Facts on Countries and Their National Games
- UEFA Champions League 2024: With a fresh format, fans are on edge as Europe’s elite clubs clash for the title.
- Women’s T20 World Cup: Bangladesh is in the spotlight, with women cricketers showing serious skills.
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Set for June, cricket fever is building as fans look forward to fast-paced action.
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- Ryder Cup 2024: Golf’s biggest rivalry is heating up as Team Europe and Team USA prepare for an epic showdown.
- NBA 2024-25 Season: The new NBA season is right around the corner, and fans can’t wait to see if their team will make a run for the title.
- Formula 1 2024: With each race, the battle for the championship intensifies, and fans are loving every second.
- Rugby World Cup: The world’s best rugby teams are going head-to-head in an intense tournament that’s captivating global audiences.
- Asian Games 2024: China is hosting this massive multi-sport event, with athletes from across Asia competing in everything from swimming to gymnastics.
- FIFA Club World Cup 2024: The top football clubs from each continent will battle it out in December for the ultimate bragging rights.
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