What are the most popular spectator sports in the world

Answers:

Here is input from WikiAnswers contributors on sports' popularity:
  • In the world: Soccer, Basketball, Ice hockey
  • Soccer, Basketball, Rugby, Cricket, Auto Racing, Field Hockey and Table Tennis
  • Soccer, Basketball, Auto Racing, Football, Cricket, Baseball, Hockey, Rugby.
  • Football as in NFL?, baseball, ice hockey? Those are predominantly all North American sports. Let's take a look; population of Canada + US = rougly 300 million! India (pop 1 billion) - just by itself can put cricket and field hockey above baseball and ice hockey. Looking at the international scene, cricket is more popular than baseball. And field hockey is a lot more popular than ice hockey! NFL shouldn't even be counted in this category!
  • Ice hockey is also popular all over Europe east and west, plus Russia plus the US plus Canada. That's about a billon and a bit enough to give it some distinction.
  • After soccer I think it is Basketball.
  • I think its soccer, basketball, table, tennis, vollyball, baseball and rugby.
  • I think its soccer, volleyball, tennis and cricket.
  • Soccer is the most popular with over the half of the world's population watching it. (3.3 Billion). Cricket is the next. Everyone would be probably surprised. But, about half of the world's population lives in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Moreover Cricket is the national sport of England. Australia's most popular sport is cricket, even new zeland. Total cricket fans are 3 to 3.3 BILLION. Hockey is also very popular. Then comes Volleyball, Tennis. American sports like baseball and basketball are not played anywhere in India, China, Pakistan, so they do not have a lot of fans.
  • 1. Football (i.e. soccer), 2. basketball, 3. Swimming, 4. tennis, 5. Motor Racing, 6. Ice Hockey, 7. Cricket, 8. Golf, 9. Baseball, 10. Snooker (i.e. pool or billiards). These ratings are based on people following the sports, teams participating and popularity.
  • Thai kick Boxing is the most seen and followed sport in china officilally 1 200 000 000+ people