What sport has worse injuries, football or soccer?

Football Versus Soccer: Comparing Injury Rates

When sports fans debate which game takes a heavier physical toll, American football and soccer frequently top the discussion. Data tracking athlete safety reveals a distinct difference in how often injuries occur on the field.

Research measuring injuries across a standard denominator of 10,000 hours of participation shows that American football carries a notably higher risk. Specifically, the injury rate in football sits at 5.08.

In contrast, sports like basketball and soccer register an injury rate of 2.69 per 10,000 hours—nearly half the rate recorded in football. Interestingly, these distinct trends remain consistent even when data is analyzed separately by sex, highlighting that the physical nature of American football consistently leads to more frequent reported incidents regardless of demographic.