There are a lot of sports that the French love, including judo, football, tennis and rugby union. France has also hosted a lot of international sporting events like the FIFA World Cup (1938 and 1998), Rugby World Cup (2007) and the biggest cycling race, Tour de France.

Tour de France cycling race

the Tour de France

There are also various tennis events that are held in France, the main one, the French Open, one of the four Grand Slam tourneys. France is also one of the biggest proponents of the revival of the Olympic Games at the end of the 19th century.

"France's football program has consistently produced world-class talent due to exceptional youth development systems. The Clairefontaine National Football Institute has become a model for academies worldwide, producing players like Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka, and Kylian Mbappe."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Football is the most popular sport in France, having 18,000 registered clubs that have a total of well over 1,800,000 players in their rosters. The French national football team names "Les Bleus" is one of the most successful teams in the world, with two FIFA World Cup (in 1998 and 2018), two FIFA World Cup second place (2006 and 2022), as well as two UEFA European Championships (1984 and 2000).

France has also produced many record holders such as Zinedine Zidane who was awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, Michel Platini, who is a three time recipient of the Ballon d'Or, Raymond Kopa, who was the first football player to receive the Legion d'honneur, the all-time leading goalscorer of the national team, Thierry Henry and the Just Fontaine who holds the record of most goals scored in a World Cup.

Pro Tip: The best time to experience French football culture is during Ligue 1 matches, particularly at iconic stadiums like the Parc des Princes (Paris Saint-Germain) or Velodrome (Olympique de Marseille), which feature electric atmospheres.

The French also love rugby union and have participated in every Rugby World Cup as well as the annual Six Nations Championships. They have won 19 Six Nations Championships (formally called Five Nations), that includes the team's recent title win in 2025. They have also reached the semi-finals of the Rugby Cup 6 times, as well as 3 finals. Basketball is also quite popular, and they have won the FIBA EuroBasket 2013 and have also won several Olympic medals.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to France. See also the list of the most popular internet searches for "sports" in France.

Popular Sports of France

See more about popular sports in France.

Traditional or Regional Sports

  • TREC — a French equestrian sport in which the objective is to test the endurance of both the horse and the rider.
  • Canne de Combat — a French martial art in which opponents battle each other inside a ring with a cane in one hand.
  • La Soule — a traditional team sport that originated in Normandy and Picardy. Usually, teams from neighboring parishes played, with the aim of the game to bring the ball back to the team's parish church, with or without the use of sticks. Also known as Choule.
  • Jeu Provencal — a popular French form of Boules, where the objective is to throw a set of hollow metal balls as close as possible to a target ball. Also known as Boule Lyonnaise.
  • Petanque — a type of boules in which the objective is to throw hollow metal balls towards a small wooden target ball.
  • Joutes Nautiques - This is a type of boat racing.
"France's traditional sports like petanque and Canne de Combat represent important cultural heritage that continues to thrive alongside modern professional sports. These activities maintain strong regional identities while attracting new generations of participants."
— Sports science expert Robert Wood

France Sporting Success

  • FIFA World Cup winners in 1998 and 2018
  • France won 64 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics (16 gold, 26 silver, and 22 bronze)
  • France won 33 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (10 gold, 12 silver, and 11 bronze)
  • France won 42 medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics (10 gold, 18 silver, and 14 bronze)
  • France won 35 medals at the London 2012 Olympics (11 gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze)
  • France has won the Tour de France 36 times
  • France has won the Davies Cup 10 times, including its most recent victory in 2017
  • France has won 19 Six Nations Championships (formally called Five Nations Championships)

World Cup Champions

France has won the FIFA World Cup twice (1998 and 2018) and reached the final four times, including runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2022.

France World Cup History →
"France's 64-medal performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics represented the nation's best home Olympic showing. The combination of world-class facilities, passionate home support, and decades of sports infrastructure investment culminated in this historic achievement."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

Great Athletes from France

  • Marie Jose-Perac (Athletics)
  • Zinedine Zidane (Football)
  • Amelie Mauresmo (Tennis)
  • Yannick Noah (Tennis)
  • Michel Platini (Football)
  • Thierry Henry (Football)
  • Jeannie Longo (Cycling)
  • Laure Manaudou (Swimming)

Six Nations Dominance

France has won 19 Six Nations Championships (formerly Five Nations), including their most recent title in 2025, making them one of rugby's most successful nations.

France Rugby History →

France Sports Trivia

  • The 1900 Olympic Games was the only Olympics where cricket was played, and it featured a match between England and France.

France at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in France

Upcoming Sporting Events in France

2030 Winter Olympics

The French Alps will host the 2030 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, marking France's fourth time hosting the Winter Olympics.

2030 Winter Olympics Details →

Annual Sporting Events Held in France

  • French Open (tennis)
  • Tour de France (cycling)
  • 24 Hours of Le Mans / 24 Heures du Mans (motorsports)
  • Ligue 1, the top level football league in France
  • The Paris-Roubaix - This is a one-day cycling race, which takes place annually in April
  • The French Superbike Championship - This is an annual motorcycle race, which takes place every April
  • The French Open of Surfing - This is an annual surfing event, which takes place every September

Pro Tip: For visitors interested in the Tour de France, the mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees offer spectacular viewing opportunities, while the final stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris is a must-see celebration of cycling.

Sporting Facilities in France

  • Circuit de la Sarthe - site of the 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race. It has a capacity of 263,500.
  • Vincennes Velodrome — Paris cycling velodrome and main stadium for the 1900 Olympic Games
  • Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir — main stadium for the 1924 Olympic Games.
  • Stade de France — main stadium for the 2024 Olympic Games.
  • INSEP: The National Institute of Sport and Physical Education (Institut national du sport et de l'education physique)

Other

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