Quick note on viewing figures:
they are often concocted by the broadcasting companies based on how many households their broadcast was available in, rather than how many actually watched.
Plus, they are often overinflated by the sporting bodies of course.
Plus, in affluent countries like the US, UK and Canada, there is often more than one tv per household and these are left on even while people are playing pc games or other such newfangled nonsense.
Including all the beer-monsters who've drunk themselves into a stupor before the players have even decorated the pitch, and all this means that the actual number of people in the world who saw the last World Cup Final was 27. The Superbowl, however, was one goat in Ohio.
But if you're interested in the lies damn lies and stats:
Top ten most popular sporting events in recent times.
1. 2002 FIFA World Cup Final (1.3 billion viewers)
2. Euro 2004 Soccer Final (153 million viewers)
3. 2004 Olympic Games: opening ceremony (127 million viewers)
4. 2004 Olympic Games: closing ceremony (96 million viewers)
5. 2004 Super Bowl (95 million viewers)
6. 2004 Olympic Games: men's 100m metres (87 million viewers)
7. 2003 Champions League (67 million viewers)
8. 2004 Olympic Games: men's 200m freestyle swimming (66 million viewers)
9. 2004 Formula One: Monaco Grand Prix (59 million viewers)
10. 2004 Basketball: NBA finals (25 million viewers) from this.
Obviously there's some variation: the NBA final in 03 got only 12 million, and the Rugby World Cup Final and Cricket World Cup Final got 23 and 20 respectively.
Incidentally, given historical precedent, managerial decisions, luck, metal pins in Owen's foot and Rooney's being dubious too I think that goat who watched the Superbowl has more chance of winning than England. I'd be happy to eat my words!