To better understand what football fans are watching on YouTube, we researched which national teams, players, and football-related videos were trending on the platform over the past year:

Latin American teams and players lead the world in viewership

YouTube users around the world spent the most time watching videos related to Latin American teams. When it comes to watch time in 2017, the top five most popular national teams consist of Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Portugal, and Mexico.

Below are the most popular 2018 FIFA World Cup teams in each of the world’s countries (by the watch time each team received in that country in 2017)

Videos of superstar football players, including Lionel Messi, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr., and Cristiano Ronaldo, all had an 80 percent increase in watch time last year (versus the year prior).

Videos of superstar football players, including Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. (Neymar), Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, and Philippe Coutinho, all had an 80% increase in watch-time last year (versus the year prior).

• Last year in Thailand, the most watched soccer players of the 2018 World Cup were Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. (Neymar), Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, and Philippe Coutinho.

Match recaps, game highlights and trick shots scored high with soccer fans

When it comes to football-related content on YouTube, match recaps, game highlights and trick shots proved popular. Over the past two years, the amount of time people spent watching match recaps on YouTube has more than doubled, and since the last FIFA World Cup, watch time for soccer game highlights has grown by 9x, while watch time for soccer-related trick shots has gone up by 50 percent.

How to watch your favorite 2018 FIFA World Cup moments this summer

Miss a game? Can’t get enough of the action? On YouTube globally, you can catch up on your favorite 2018 FIFA World Cup moments with select video highlights from official FIFA broadcasters in more than 80 countries around the world, including from True4Uin Thailand, Fox and Telemundo in the U.S., the BBC in the U.K., ARD Sportschau in Germany, NHK in Japan, Kwese in Nigeria and across Africa, Televisa in Mexico, Latina Televisión in Peru, and more.

The excitement doesn’t end on the pitch. There are hundreds of YouTube channels that will take you beyond the games for the complete 2018 FIFA World Cup experience, with live shows, training footage, interviews, banter and match analysis. The official FIFA channel will share content from around the tournament and keep users up-to-date with the latest news. A number of channels will have regular original and exclusive content including the FA with daily content from the English national football team, Germany’sDFB Die Mannschaft will report from the training camp as well as the team’s base camp, and FC Barcelona will even host interviews with Barça World Cup legends.

The 10th seed produced a clinical performance to down Russian Daria Kasatkina, the conqueror of world number two Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier in the last eight.

Earlier in the day Keys, the 13th seed, reached the semi-finals for the first time by seeing off Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

Stephens cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Keys last September to win her first Grand Slam title in New York.

“When we get on the court, it’s time to compete. But before that, we are not going to be weird and awkward and make it, like, weird for each other,” said Stephens, who was close to going out in the third round to Camila Giorgi before winning 8-6 in a deciding set.

“Now I just had to go find her, because I need to tell her some juicy stuff. I just went and searched for her in the training room.

“Yeah, I think everything will be normal. And then when we get on the court, it’s time to compete. It’s go time. Until then, we’re the same girls as always.”

It is the first time that two American women have reached the last four at Roland Garros since 2002, when Serena Williams beat sister Venus in the final, after a semi-final win over Jennifer Capriati.

Stephens, who was ranked 957 just six weeks before her maiden Grand Slam triumph last year after a series of injury problems, is now into the semi-finals of a major for the third time.

“To have two Americans in the semi-finals of the French Open, I think, is pretty incredible,” said the 25-year-old.

“That means one American will be in the final of a French Open, which is another amazing thing. All in all, I don’t think anyone can complain.”

Stephens and Kasatkina traded breaks early in the match, before the American produced some ferocious hitting at the end of a marathon eighth game to give herself the chance to serve for the opening set.

She did just that, with the help of a sumptuous backhand drop shot.

The 14th-seeded Kasatkina kicked off the second set with a solid hold of serve, but Stephens broke in the third game with a venomous cross-court forehand and eased to victory after just an hour and 10 minutes of play.

– Keys too strong for Putintseva –

Keys struck 30 winners past a battling Putintseva in an impressive display, but will have to at least maintain that level in the last four against Stephens.

The 23-year-old struggled nine months ago under the pressure with the US Open title on the line, but she is confident that performance won’t affect the match at Roland Garros.

“Honestly, the (US) Open feels like it was 12 years ago at this point,” said Keys, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament.

“I obviously rely on what I learned there and how to manage my emotions and manage the moment, but there were so many late nights and I was so tired. It feels completely different here.”

Putintseva made the first significant move with a break in the seventh game on Tuesday, but failed to serve out the set as Keys found her range.

The Kazakh showed great resolve to force a tie-break, though, saving two set points on her own serve.

But the greater power of Keys paid dividends in the breaker, as the American finally took the opener on her fourth set point with her 18th winner.

Putintseva fought hard at the start of the second set, but Keys broke through to take a 4-3 lead with a rasping forehand return before confidently serving her way to the semi-finals.

In the other half of the draw, two-time champion Maria Sharapova will meet 2016 winner Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday, while world number one Simona Halep takes on double Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber.

The 31-year-old Serb slumped to an epic 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 7-6 (13/11) quarter-final loss to world number 72 Cecchinato, a player who had never won a match at the majors before this year’s Roland Garros.

Djokovic, a former world number one and 12-time Grand Slam title winner, had previously only been beaten by a player ranked lower than 25-year-old Cecchinato at the majors on two occasions — Marat Safin at Wimbledon in 2008 when the maverick Russian was at 78 and 117th-ranked Denis Istomin at last year’s Australian Open.

Tuesday’s defeat left Djokovic shell-shocked, so much so that he threatened to skip the forthcoming grasscourt season and, by extension, Wimbledon where he is a three-time champion.

“I don’t know if I’m going to play on grass — I’m just not thinking about tennis at the moment,” said Djokovic who opted to conduct his post-match media duties on Tuesday in a minor conference room, which had already been shut up for the evening, far away from the waiting cameras.

His career statistics which used to sing of record-breaking feats now make grim reading.

The last of his 12 majors was secured at Roland Garros in 2016 when he completed a career Grand Slam.

That was the year he also became the first player to break through the career $100 million prize money barrier.

But his last run to a semi-final at the Slams was when he went onto finish runner-up at the 2016 US Open.

The Djokovic resume lists 68 career titles but he’s only won four since his French Open triumph in 2016.

That Paris win came after three final defeats in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

– ‘Life is difficult’ –

What was particularly frustrating for Djokovic on Tuesday was the manner of his defeat.

He may have had to call two medical timeouts for a neck and right leg injury, but chance after chance was squandered.

Three set points came and went in the 12th game of the second set, three break points were wasted in the sixth game of the fourth before he blew the chance to level the tie at two sets apiece in the ninth game.

He had another three set points in the gripping  fourth set tiebreaker, the third of which flew into the Paris evening sky off an ugly ballooned forehand.

There was still a hint of the old Djokovic magic as he desperately clung on, saving one match point with a no-look backhand volley.

Djokovic, attempting to reach a 32nd Grand Slam semi-final, knows there are lingering problems in his game.

A ranking of 22 is the lowest for 12 years, a consequence of his long-standing elbow problems and indifferent form.

He hasn’t made the final of a tournament since winning the Wimbledon warm-up at Eastbourne last summer.

He won just two titles in 2017 compared to seven in 2016 and 11 in 2015.

This year too has been a rollercoaster.

He was knocked out of the Australian Open in the last 16 by Hyeon Chung, then ranked at 58.

Taro Daniel, the 109-ranked Japanese player, stunned in him in Indian Wells before Benoit Paire, at 47 in the rankings, knocked him out in Miami.

In what was becoming a familiar tale, Martin Klizan, at 140, stunned him in Barcelona before there were signs of life with a semi-final run at Rome where it took Rafael Nadal to snuff out his challenge in the semi-finals.

“It is difficult. Many things in life are difficult,” said Djokovic.

“Any defeat is difficult in the Grand Slams, especially the one that, you know, came from months of buildup.

“And I thought I had a great chance to get at least a step further, but wasn’t to be. That’s the way it is.”

At least Djokovic can look to old rival Roger Federer for inspiration.

It may be two years since Djokovic’s last Grand Slam triumph, but Federer went almost five years from Wimbledon in 2012 until the 2017 Australian Open before he added to his majors collection.

 Pencilled in for January 28 to February 3 at the True Arena Hua Hin, the Thailand Open will offer overall prize money of $250,000 and will be ranked as a WTA International event, the sixth and final rung of the WTA ladder after the Premier, Premier 5, Premier Mandatory, Year End Championships and Grand Slams in respective.

Thailand held the same WTA level event in Pattaya from 1991 to2015  before the rights were sold to other country due to the economic downturn and decline of tennis popularity in Thailand.

Former world No 19 Tamarine Tanasugarn and ex world No 9 Paradorn Srichaphan raised the profile of Thai tennis with their achievements on the global stage but since their retirement, the sport has been overshadowed by football, volleyball and badminton. The men’s ATP Thailand Open was also discontinued in 2013.

Without the two professional tennis events, Thai fans have only been able to catch a glimpse of world-class players in exhibitions mainly held in Hua Hin in a traditional year-end event.

But from now on, through the deal between former Deputy Prime Minister and tournament Advisory Chairman Suwat Liptapanlop and tournament’s rights holder APG, a truly competitive event is back again until 2023 under the terms of the new five-year contract.

Suwat Liptapanlop 

“Thailand has not hosted any major professional tennis tournaments for a long time so it is with great pleasure that we announce this new tournament,” said Suwat. “ It is a wonderful opportunity for young Thai tennis players to compete against top players from around the globe and develop their skills at this tournament.”

His daughter and Executive Director of host venue, Proudputh Liptapanlop said: “We have renovated the centre court and have designed a new grandstand to increase the seating capacity to 2,500.”

Charles Hsiung, president of APG, a sport and event organisation said: ““APG is a leader and pioneer in the development of women’s tennis in the region so we felt it was important to have a WTA event back in South East Asia.”

In order to fully concentrate on the WTA event, a 125K WTA event (lower-level event) a US$125,000 Challenger and the annual exhibition are all cancelled this year.

The inaugural Thailand Open Hua Hin 2019, will be played on hard courts and is scheduled for week five of the WTA calendar. The winner will receive 280 WTA ranking points.

The 22-year-old from Chanthaburi beat Indian duo Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar by two shots with a total 21 under-par-263 to claim his maiden Asian Tour victory last year.

He also became the fourth Thai to hold the honourable trophy (granted by the late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej) after Sutheo Meesawat in 1991, Boonchu Rungakit in 1992 and 2004 and Prayad Marksaeng in 2013.

“I’m quite confident that I can win it again,” said the former SEA Games gold medallist, who has posted two top-five finishes this year, at the Myanmar Open and Panasonic Open Championship in Japan.

“I have skipped two events to concentrate on this one. The greens and fairways are in better condition than last year, although the key is still the same  – to hit the fairways. You need to do that as much as possible if you want to shoot low scores.”

Rattanon, a one-time Asian Tour winner, so far has just the one win this season, at a local All Thailand Tour event in Khon Kaen in February.

“I will try to stay away from pressure. I need to focus on my game plan, playing one shot at a time. If I can’t make it, I still hope the trophy will fall into a hand of a Thai,” he added.

Apart from Rattanon, the other home hopes are young gun Jazz Janewattananond and the in-form Pavit Tangkamolprasert who just won his first title this year, an All Thailand Tour event in Nakhon Pathom last week.

A total of 156 players from 24 nations with no fewer than 80 local players are taking part in the Thailand Open, the only Asian Tour-level event in Thailand. It is being staged at the Thai Country Club, off the Bang Na-Trad highway.

Thiem, the Austrian seventh seed, goes on to face either 2016 champion and 12-time major winner Novak Djokovic or Italy’s world number 72 Marco Cecchinato for a place in Sunday’s final.

German second seed Zverev simply ran out of gas, paying a heavy price for needing three successive five-set matches to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

His Roland Garros marathon also left him physically drained — he needed his left thigh strapped in the second set.

“He is one of the fittest guys on the tour so it was difficult for him today,” said Thiem, the only man to have defeated 10-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal on clay this year.

“I hope we have many more matches at the Grand Slams but when we are 100 percent.

“It’s great to reach the semi-finals for a third year but it’s time to take another step and I will do everything for that.”

The statistics made bleak reading for Zverev — he finished with 42 unforced errors and just 19 winners.

In a tight first set of a match played in overcast, heavy conditions, Thiem converted the only break point off a backhand winner in the seventh game before securing the opener with an ace.

Austria’s Dominic Thiem is congratulated by Germany’s Alexander Zverev

Zverev, who had spent more than two and a half hours than his Austrian opponent getting to this stage, hit 13 unforced errors to Thiem’s miserly eight.

A double break took the 24-year-old Austrian to 4-1 in the second set before Zverev needed a medical timeout for a leg injury.

With his left thigh heavily strapped, the 21-year-old German was soon two sets down and looking at having to become the first player to win four consecutive five-setters if he was to make the semi-finals.

Zverev managed just four winners in the second set.

There was no coming back for the big-hearted German who was quickly down 4-0 in the third before Thiem wrapped up the affair.

The inspirational Korean captain was the standout performer in her team’s 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 26-24) victory over hosts Thailand, who continue to sit near the foot of the overall rankings but competed hard to provide plenty of cheer for their passionate fans. The Kingdom’s team, meanwhile, have lost all four matches at home since last week in Bangkok.

Kim made several clutch plays when her team appeared to be melting under the pressure deep in the fourth set after crumbling during a lacklustre third stanza. She was ably supported by Heejin Kim, while middle blocker Kim Su Ji was sensational late in the fourth set.

Thailand, who were sitting a lowly 14th coming into the contest, were led by wing spiker Onuma Sittirak and captain Pluemjit Thinkaow in an improved performance after coming off a winless phase three in Bangkok.

Korea, who are now 5-5, struggled in the third phase but were favoured having dominated Thailand at the major world level in recent times.

From the get-go the match was a high-octane affair with Kim hammering a spike to immediately silence the boisterous crowd as Korea – through strong serve – skipped ahead to a quick 8-4 lead before the first technical timeout.

Thinkaow tried to fuel her team with a high-flying spike which brought spectators to their feet, but Korea had the answers with strong blocking at the net repelling a slew of attacks. A high-flying Heejin was deadly around the net and showed exquisite touch as a confident Korea looked the far more organised team.

Tenacious defending from Nootsara Tomkom complemented by an aggressive Malika Kanthong kept the hosts in the contest much to the delight of their beloved fans but Korea held their nerve with Kim producing some timely clutch play to ensure her team claimed a decisive first set.

In a bold attempt to get into the contest, Thailand started the second set determined to fight for every point but Korea countered with stellar serving, while Heejin continued to showcase precision with her spikes.

In a mirror image of the first set, Korea skipped out to an early four-point buffer with Kim’s aerial pyrotechnics proving mesmerising and ensuring the stadium remained eerily silent.

There were some memorable rallies as the standard rose during a pulsating stretch highlighted by one notable exchange capped off by brilliance from Jin Yang Hyo as Korea seemed a level above their mismatched opponents.

Even though they lacked their opponent’s polish, Thailand conjured points through sheer effort as veteran wing spiker Onuma found her range to ensure a more than competitive spectacle. Cunning serving from Hattaya Bamrungsuk reduced the margin to one point as bedlam erupted inside the stadium as the faithful could sense Thailand’s surging momentum.

However, Lee Daeyong, Kim and Heejin restored Korea’s order through timely spikes as the visitors eventually claimed the second set and a stranglehold of the contest.

In a bid to finish the match and not let the crowd regain its spark, Korea started the third set strongly with Su Ji dominating at the net as the result appeared to be a formality. However, Korea were unable to shake off their pesky rivals as the roof almost came off the stadium when Thailand won a thrilling 42-second rally to cut the deficit to 12-10 as the match tightened.

For the first time in the match, Korea was threatened deep in the set as scores were deadlocked on several occasions before a sizzling serve from Hattaya gave Thailand the lead as the crowd erupted in delight.

The play rose a level and peaked during a memorable 38-second rally that was punctuated by a booming block from Jin Yang but Thailand would not be denied highlighted by desperation from a diving Wilavan Apinyapong as the hosts astoundingly won seven straight points to claim the third set.

The absorbing contest continued into the fourth set with the teams trading points and marked by Korea desperate to regain the initiative in a determined bid for the match to not go into a deciding stanza.

A blistering spike from Onuma locked the scores at 13 apiece and shortly after Thailand took the lead as Korea appeared to be wilting amid the swirling anticipation permeating through the crowd.

Much like the backend of the third set, Korea’s confidence was shaken as they made several errors to fall in a three-point hole before successive Kim spikes reduced the deficit to 20-19. Another Kim spike gave Korea their fourth straight point and, more importantly, the lead but Thailand mounted another fightback to earn set point at 25-24.

However, Korea held their nerve – which had been numerously tested – and a resounding block from Jin Yang ended the contest sparking scenes of jubilation from the Korean players contrasted by despair from Thailand and their loyal home fans.

Korea Head Coach Cha Haewon said: “First of all, we had four successive losses prior to this match. So we really prepared against Thailand today. Their team mixes really well and we want to learn their good mixture of competence. I’m just so glad to win against them today.”

Thailand Head Coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul said: “In the first set we struggled with our service reception as they put pressure on us with their effective serving,which made it hard for us to play with our own game.We tried to improve our game in the third and fourth sets  and the game became more fun. Unfortunately we couldn’t win in the fourth set because of our own mistakes. Against Turkey tomorrow,I think it is going to be another tough match for us. They have tall players with aggressive attacks,but we will try to do our best.”

Thailand will be looking to break their home drought when they play the formidable Turkey on Wednesday, while Korea faces Japan.

Earlier in the afternoon session, Turkey beat Japan 3-1 (25-17 25-23 13-25 25-21) for their seventh win in 10 matches. Turkey are now at fourth on the standings.

Ariya Jutanugarn displayed fighting qualities worthy of a champion to dig herself out of a deep hole and win the $5 million US Women’s Open on Sunday.

The Kingdom’s most successful golfer squandered a seven-shot lead with nine holes remaining before edging out South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo on the fourth playoff hole to become the first Thai to claim the richest prize in women’s golf.

“ I feel great and really excited,” said 22-year-old Ariya, whose maiden Major was at the 2016 Women’s British Open.

“I’m really honoured to join the list of winners before me.”

The Bangkokian has endured setbacks before enjoying triumphs throughout her six years on the pro circuit – and so it was during the final round in Shoal Creek, Alabama.

Standing on 16-under-par and holding a seven-shot lead heading to the back nine, Ariya appeared to be cruising to her ninth career win and her second in a row after winning in Virginia a fortnight ago.

But a triple bogey on the 10th hole followed by two more bogeys on the 12th and 17th meant she needed to par the 18th to beat Kim.

However, she missed a 12-foot par putt to finish with a 73 for a 72-hole total of 11-under 277, to force a four-hole playoff with Kim, a one-time Major winner herself.

This time she did not suffer the meltdown that got the better out of her at the 2013 LPGA Thailand and 2016 ANA Inspiration, two big events she allowed to slip from her grasp.

In all four playoff holes, her first and second shots missed the fairways and even found the bunkers but Ariya, known to her fans as May, showed she had learned from her troubled past and somehow managed to keep her cool.

Kim birdied the first playoff hole and made bogey on the second, while Jutanugarn had a pair of pars.

They each made par on the third playoff hole and then Ariya pounced at the fourth, hitting out of the bunker and tapping home an easy championship par putt tory as Kim missed her par putt.

“After you have a seven-shot lead and end up having to go to a playoff, I had no expectations,” she said.

“If I have a playoff then I’m going to make sure I do my best every shot because I felt like I didn’t commit on the back nine. I felt like I had a last chance to make myself proud.”

Mother Narumon Tiwattanasuk and Ariya’s elder sister Moriya, who celebrated her own maiden LPGA win in California two months ago, were enormously relieved after watching the finale from the stands.

“You are such a fighter – – you never give up,” Moriya posted on her Facebook page. “I am so proud of you. What you did today was very encouraging. It was amazing to watch.”

With the win, Ariya will climb to No 2 in the world later this week as she sets her sights on returning to the top spot she held for two weeks last year.

“I haven’t thought about the ranking for a while but, of course, after this win I’ll be thinking about the ranking. I want to be No 1 to inspire all the kids in Thailand,” said Ariya, who earned US$900,000 from the win to take her career earnings past the $6 million mark.

However Ariya won’t be returning home just yet because she still has plenty of events to come in the US and Europe. All she is allowing herself is a one-week break before her next tournament in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit won the Best Low Amateur category, which meant Thais won both the professional and amateur categories of the 2018 Women’s US Open.

The UCLA freshman finished with two under-par-286 for tied fifth place alongside Lexi Thompson of the US, Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan and Sarah Jane Smith of Australia.

The world number one’s 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory over the world number 70 saw him equal the record of 12 last-eight appearances at Roland Garros, which was set by Novak Djokovic the day before.

It is the 35th time the Spaniard, who turned 32 on Sunday, has made the quarters of a Grand Slam tournament.

Nadal will face Argentinian Diego Schwartzman for a semi-final spot, after the 11th seed staged a thrilling comeback to down sixth seed Kevin Anderson 1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2.

Top seed Nadal is now on his own in third on the all-time list for most match wins at Grand Slam events with 234 victories.

The 18-year-old clinched the Best Low Amateur trophy with a closing two under-par-286 to tie for fifth, the best among the seven amateurs to make the cut at Shoal Creek.

“It’s a like a dream come true finishing top 5 and getting the Low Amateur this week,” said the UCLA student, who shared fifth spot with several star players, including nine-time LPGA winner Lexi Thompson of the US.

“I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to be competing alongside the world’s great female golfers. I’m also proud of how I handled myself this week.”

Touted as one of Thailand’s future sporting stars, Paphangkorn surprised everyone by deciding to take a college scholarship instead of immediately pursuing a career in professional golf.

Successful Thai players, including Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn – the only two Thai winners on the LPGA Tour – have generally opted to focus on a pro career as soon as they have finished high school.

The 2016 Junior Player of the Year thinks otherwise.

“I chose education mainly because I wanted to play college golf in the US,” said Paphangkorn, who already had four titles at the collegiate level this year before winning the US Open qualifying tournament.

“Collegiate tournaments have sharpened my game –they have obviously had the biggest impact on how much I have improved over the past season.

“I see it [playing at collegiate level] as another undeniable opportunity for me to get the best athletic support from UCLA and the right preparation to be on tour.

“So it isn’t really a waste of time.”

The gifted teenager says she has been inspired by Ariya’s achievement and overwhelmed to have been part of the huge success of the Thai players in women’s golf’s biggest tournament of all this week.

“Ariya’s win definitely inspires me a lot. Just to see a Thai player do it, it proves that we are all capable of winning out here on tour too. I’m super happy that both Thais got the dub [double] this week,” said Paphangkorn.