Football Australia is thrilled to announce that as of this morning, ticket sales have exceeded 1.5 million for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™, establishing a new benchmark for any FIFA Women’s World Cup™ event.
Before today’s schedule of matches, 12 matches have been played, drawing a total attendance of 363,937. This represents an average match attendance of 30,326, eclipsing the average of 21,756 for France 2019 and the historical tournament average of 24,780 for all FIFA Women’s World Cup™ matches. The 72% increase in attendance compared to France 2019 through the first 12 games further highlights the growing popularity of women’s football globally.
The highest match attendance was recorded during the Australia vs Republic of Ireland game, with a record 75,784 attendees. Australia alone has contributed over 1.1 million to the total ticket sales, reflecting the overwhelming support and enthusiasm for women’s football in the region.
In addition to match attendance, the FIFA Fan Festival has also seen impressive participation with a total of 117,013 visitors across four days, averaging 29,253 per day. Record numbers were observed in Auckland, Perth, and Sydney on Saturday, with the Sydney festival witnessing the highest visitor count of 17,134 for the tournament so far.
Broadcast viewership has also soared with the New Zealand vs Norway game being the most viewed FIFA Women’s World Cup™ match in New Zealand history. According to Sky New Zealand, over one million viewers tuned in to watch the opening match. In Australia, the game between Australia and the Republic of Ireland, also on the opening day of the tournament, recorded an average audience of 1.94 million viewers, nearly tripling the previous record and even surpassing viewership figures from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, expressed his pride and delight at these impressive numbers, stating, “This tournament is creating history and we are delighted as Host Nation. We are seeing a surge in support for women’s football, not just in ticket sales, but also in broadcast viewership, fan festival participation and merchandise sales.
“This heightened interest in our national iconic brands is also reflected in record CommBank Matildas merchandise sales online and in retail stores. These numbers reflect the growing strength and appeal of the women’s game, particularly the CommBank Matildas, and it’s a testament to the incredible athletes who are providing us with such thrilling football.
“The Australian public has demonstrated how much they love the game and the CommBank Matildas and have come out in numbers at all matches across the country and we thank them for their exceptional support,” concluded Johnson.
As Football Australia look forward to more thrilling games and further records to tumble, Football Australia wishes to express its gratitude to all fans, sponsors, and stakeholders for their unwavering support. The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™ is on track to create a lasting legacy for women’s football.
