Yes, soccer beats chess by a lot when it comes to number of viewers worldwide. But that’s only because chess is not the type of sport you watch. It’s the type of sport you play. A 2007 FIFA report estimated that 265 million people worldwide play soccer, the most of any traditional “sport”. Well, sorry to spoil the party, but in a report to the IOC, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) approximated that 605 million people play chess. That’s almost three times as many people as soccer.

Resources:

Why Chess is the Most Popular Sport in the World

Chess A Tool for Education & Health:The Kenya National Assembly & Senate Written Declaration