I assume it is what Americans call football you are talking about? While I don't think that chess is a sport I think it is superior to football. While physical exercise is important there are many more efficient ways of exercising than doing competitive or team sports where as Chess exercises your brain in a way few other games do. Also football is boring.

Before i start i would like to say that this is entirely subjective and based upon preferences. I choose chess because i believe it is more challenging and requires a strategic mind, not to say football doesn't require one but i believe chess requires quite the advanced strategist. Chess is more orientated with the mind and being able to predict your opponents moves before even they know what they're going to do. It reflects character and the way a person thinks, how they approach issues of a tactical nature and how they value. Chess is individual, you are reliant upon yourself, football is team-based, you can rely on yourself but more likely it is you rely on others. When you can blame others you don't learn from your mistakes, in chess the only one you can blame is yourself. :)

I love Chess I play it all the time. Me and my friend play each other so much. It can last 3 hours in rare games.

I will say Chess because it is brain power whereas football is physical power.