Why is soccer the most popular sport in the world?

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world because of several reasons including: It is easy to understand the rules and thus it is easy to play.  The scoring system is simple - one goal equals 1 point.  It does not require a lot of equipment.  As a soccer player you have a lot of freedom in decision making compared to other sports like American football where players are expected to follow specific directions and plays from the coach.  Soccer can be played in many different formats - from official team sizes with 11 players vs. 11 players to smaller teams of 2 players vs 2 players.  Soccer is fun and exciting to play or watch.