We’re ready to score.
Dating can feel like a sport in itself, but new data has revealed that one of the strongest pathways to finding love in 2026 is, well, sports.
The findings come courtesy of research conducted by Feeld, a dating app catering to “open-minded” lifestyles, recapping trends in the realm of human sexuality, desire, identity and connection, spotted during the past year.
The experts said an interest in sports and physical activity is driving relationships now, particularly among younger singles — becoming the new social currency for connection.
From run clubs to competitive-date tennis and dopamine-boosting community sports, romantic hopefuls are integrating organized sports into their social lives and how they attempt to meet people.
“An emphasis on experiences, being sociable and forging intimacy through structured activities and clubs helps understand why more people are vocal about sport,” Dr. Luke Brunning, lecturer in applied ethics and co-director of the Centre for Love, Sex and Relationships (CLSR) at the University of Leeds, said in a written statement announcing the findings.
“Add to that the growing representation of women in sport, as well as the visibility of non-mainstream sports on social media, and cultural emphasis on wellness, fitness and health, and the stage is set for sport to take a more prominent place in dating,” Brunning said.
Of Gen Z’s fastest growing interests, sports took eight of the top 10 spots, according to the findings. What started as using run clubs as the go-to meet-cute for Gen Z and millennials eventually turned into a full boom in using sports as a form of connection.
The report stated there had been an increase of between 300-600% in terms of interest in tennis, football, basketball and general fitness.
Soccer spiked nearly seven times at almost 600%, while basketball, football, running, swimming, the gym and working out all had a 4.5x increase at around 350%.
Perhaps it’s the “Challengers” effect, but tennis alone has seen a 600% growth in interest — and the sport has definitely taken advantage of the love-love.
During this year’s Fan Week at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the U.S. Open filmed, produced and released its own YouTube series called “Game, Set, Matchmaker,” following eight couples who were set up to see if they could be each other’s doubles partner for life.
The people chosen had to have some passion for tennis as a sport as well as an interest in experiencing the U.S. Open.
“The U.S. Open is more than a tournament; it’s a cultural stage,” Alana Glenn Moritz, creative director for Fresh Tape Media, said at the time, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“We built this series to capture that energy in its purest form. It’s unexpected, it’s current, and it taps into the drama and connection that makes this event unlike anything else.”
Something similar occurred at the Ryder Cup in September, as single women ditched dating apps and headed to the golf tournament to find eligible bachelors.
Comedian Heather McMahan shared on her podcast at the time that girls in the tri-state area should run to Bethpage to meet someone.
“Take the train, take the Long Island Railroad, the LIRR out there, get day passes… that is where you are going to meet some hotties,” she said — and some followed her advice.
“As soon as I walked in, I texted my friends and Facetimed my mom and said, ‘Look at all these guys,’” Colleen Griparich, a 36-year-old single from Fair Lawn, New Jersey previously told The Post. “I probably could see 500 or 600 men at one time. I couldn’t even believe it.”
“They all looked like nice guys, because they were wearing golf shirts, and who doesn’t look nice in a golf shirt?” she added.
The rise of pickleball has contributed to the lovefest as well, as New York City’s pickleball courts have become hotspots for Gen Zs and millennials looking to find love.
With pickleball, you often play with strangers either competing against them or rotating in, and the small borders and casual nature of the sport allows for chatting — and of course, flirting — with others on the court.
And, of course, there are always the run clubs, an early arrival on the active dating scene and referred to frequently as the “new Tinder.”
Dr. Zac Turner noted earlier this year that going to run clubs — or any organized sport, for that matter — helps singles to meet new people and bond over “shared suffering.”
Plus, everyone is wearing activewear, so there’s no fuss over a first-date outfit decision.
“It’s also a natural way to connect — no ghosting, no swiping through bios where someone’s only personality trait is ‘loves the gym and crypto,’” he added.
“And if nothing else, at least you walk away with a good workout.”
The post Looking for love in 2026? Sports and physical activity are the hot new way to meet a mate: study appeared first on New York Post.
