With 1.5 Million Tickets Sold FIFA Women's World Cup Ticket Sales Highest in Event's History so far

A significant milestone was reached when a family of five from New Zealand bought tickets for the present FIFA Women's World Cup, bringing the overall number of purchases to an astonishing 1.5 million on July 24, 2023. The competition, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, is now on course to have the highest attendance ever.

FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, announced that the historic 1.5 millionth ticket was bought by Maria Strong, a resident of Auckland, New Zealand. Maria Strong purchased the tickets for her husband and three children, who will be attending Italy's Group G victory over Argentina at Eden Park. The purchase was part of a joyous family celebration in honor of her son's 12th birthday.

In an official statement, FIFA revealed that the impressive sales target was surpassed within the first five days of the month-long tournament. This success puts the 2023 edition on course to exceed the record attendance set during the 2015 Women's World Cup held in Canada, where over 1.35 million people attended a total of 52 games. The current tournament has further expanded to accommodate 32 teams, which has undoubtedly contributed to the growing popularity and support for women's football.

Both Australia and New Zealand have witnessed unprecedented enthusiasm for women's soccer, as demonstrated by the record-breaking crowds attending the opening games. New Zealand's thrilling upset win over Norway saw a new record on July 20, 2023, of 42,137 spectators, while Australia's 1-0 victory over Ireland drew an impressive 75,784 fans at Stadium Australia, the venue for the final match scheduled for August 20.

The surge in support for women's football is not limited to ticket sales alone. Football Australia's Chief Executive, James Johnson, noted a significant increase in broadcast viewership, fan festival participation, and merchandise sales. The first 12 games of the tournament boasted a combined attendance of 363,937 spectators, with an impressive average of 30,326 per game, surpassing the figures from the first twelve games of the 2019 edition in France (21,756) and the historical Women's World Cup average (24,780).

While the 1999 tournament in the United States still holds the record for the highest average match attendance across 32 games, with an average of 37,944 spectators, the current FIFA Women's World Cup is making history and leaving a lasting impact on the growth and popularity of women's soccer worldwide.