Football is not just played on the pitch.
It lives in the stands, echoes in the chants, and explodes in every goal celebrated by thousands… sometimes millions.
In 2026, that passion has been measured. And the results tell a powerful story.
According to the latest report from CIES Football Observatory, which released its Attendance & Engagement Report (2025/26), the list of the 30 most passionate football nations in the world is dominated by familiar giants.
At the top stands Brazil, where football is more religion than sport.
Right behind them is Argentina, a nation where every match feels like a war of pride.
Then comes Turkey in third, followed by England in fourth, and Morocco completing the top five.
But the real story, the one that turns heads, comes from Southeast Asia.
Indonesia Breaks Into the World’s Top 10
Yes, Southeast Asia is on the map! Indonesia has stormed into the top 10, sitting proudly at 8th place in the world. Not just among Asian nations, but globally.
They stand above football powerhouses like Italy in 9th and Scotland in 10th.
From the moment fans flood stadium gates hours before kickoff, to the deafening roar when the national anthem plays, Indonesia’s football culture is something you feel, not just see.
Every national team match becomes an event. Stadiums turn into seas of red. Chants don’t stop. Energy doesn’t drop. Even outside the stadium, millions follow every pass, every tackle, every moment.
Vietnam: Quietly Rising, Loudly Passionate
Further down the list, Viet Nam sits at 26th place. It may not grab headlines like Indonesia’s top 10 finish, but Viet Nam's presence confirms something important. Football passion in Southeast Asia is not isolated. It is growing.
From packed stadiums during international fixtures to the rising engagement across digital platforms, Viet Nam continues to build a strong and loyal football culture.
What Defines “Passionate Fans”?
This ranking is not based on emotion alone. It is built on data, on measurable intensity. The CIES Football Observatory evaluates multiple key indicators:
1. Attendance in stadiums
Average league crowds, stadium occupancy rates, and total seasonal attendance
2. Consistency of support
Not just big matches, but regular games week in, week out
3. National team enthusiasm
Crowds during World Cup qualifiers and continental competitions
4. Digital engagement
Social media interaction, TV and streaming viewership, online fan activity
5. Relative metrics
Adjusted to population size, meaning smaller countries can still rank high
6. Cultural factors
Fan traditions, ultras, chants, tifos, and the intensity of rivalries
Why Indonesia Stands Out
So why is Indonesia ranked so high?
Because the numbers match the noise.
Massive attendance for national team matches, strong domestic league support, especially for big clubs, unmatched social media activity. And above all, a deep emotional connection between fans and the national team.
In Indonesia, football is not just entertainment. It is identity.
A Region on the Rise
The inclusion of Indonesia and Viet Nam sends a clear message, Southeast Asia is no longer just a developing football region, it is becoming one of the most passionate football cultures in the world. And as stadiums get louder, rivalries grow fiercer, and fanbases expand globally, this rise feels far from over, so now the question is yours.
Do you agree with these rankings?
Do Indonesia and Viet Nam truly deserve their spots among the world’s most passionate football nations?
