The French public is embracing sport like never before

More numerous, more diverse, and more passionate, fans are following an increasing number of disciplines. Driven by rapid feminization and a highly engaged younger generation, sport has become a true cultural mirror of a France that vibrates, unites, and redefines itself through its passions.

The ecosystem of a French sports fan

• Sports: A French sports fan is on average a fan of 2.9 sports, with 1.3 of those fandoms Avid.
• Competitions: They follow more than five competitions, led by the World Cup, the Euros, and Roland-Garros.
• Leagues: National leagues remain central, with Ligue 1 and the Top 14 leading the way.
• Clubs: Iconic clubs such as Stade Toulousain, Paris Saint-Germain, and Marseille have the most avid fanbases.
• National teams: The French football and rugby teams embody the pinnacle of national unity and sporting emotion.

The French are increasingly invested in sport

Affection for sport in France continues to grow. Nearly 8 in 10 French people (79%) say they are just as interested or more interested in sport compared to last year, and the average fan follows almost three disciplines. Traditional sports remain the most dynamic: 90% of rugby fans, 85% of cycling fans, and 83% of tennis fans report stable or rising interest. Football remains the cornerstone of the sporting landscape, while motorsports, long seen as more “niche”, continue to gain traction, with 82% of fans saying they are as or more engaged than in 2024.

A narrowing gender gap

In France, men remain being fans of sport more than women (80% vs. 64%), but the gap is steadily closing, driven by younger generations. Among women aged 16 to 34, 57% say they are sports fans, compared to less than 20% among those over 65, signalling a true renewal of female fandom in sport. This new generation of fans gravitates toward football (43%) and athletics (34%); two disciplines symbolizing a more inclusive, modern, and diverse approach to sport. A major cultural shift in the French sporting landscape.

Women’s sport on the rise but lacking diversity

Women’s sport continues to grow in popularity in France, but its ecosystem remains heavily centered on football. While the top 10 men’s team fanbases show real variety, with only 60% coming from football, the women’s ranking is entirely dominated by football clubs. Moreover, 40% of the ten largest team fanbases are international, all of which are football-related. Fans often support both a French and a foreign club per league, confirming football’s central role. Still, Stade Toulousain, with 59% fan avidity, reminds us that rugby remains a cornerstone of French sport.

Fan avidity is a central consideration for women’s football in France, similar to our findings in the UK (read more here) where Fan Graph data showed only 36% of women’s football fans in the UK are classed as avid fans, vs 61% of men’s football fans. Nurturing fandoms and building avidity and affinity are consistent challenges for women’s football across European markets. Rights owners who succeed in developing greater avidity will reap the benefits in the next phase of women’s football’s growth trajectory.

Growing into the post-Paris 2024 world, sport in France is entering a golden era of fan growth. Fans are following more sports (almost three per person), with an increasing level of avidity overall. The diversity of sporting interest is increasing, and more sports and competitions are benefitting from greater attention.

It should be made clear that not all sports and rights owners will benefit commercially from this growth in French sport fandom. In order to capitalise on it, rights owners must focus on driving avidity further, building more direct relationships and touchpoints with their audiences that nurture fandom and convert interest into tangible returns.