Largest attendances in women’s football history ahead of Matilda’s record breaking opening game
The 2023 Women’s World Cup kicks off this Thursday, and it’s already set to break records.
Australia takes on the Republic of Ireland in their tournament opener in a fixture that had to be moved to Stadium Australian due to demand.
It is set to break the Matildas' attendance record and could very well sit in the top 10 attendances in women’s football history.
Ahead of the record-breaking game, we’ve taken a look back at the 10 largest attendances in women’s football history.
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As the popularity of women’s football has grown we’ve seen monumental crowds truly showcasing how far the game has come.
10. England vs Austria, July 6 2022 - 68,871 (Old Trafford)
It was the opening game of Euro 2022 and the Lionesses’ popularity was at its peak in their home nation.
A true indication of their popularity came from the fact that the opening game was held in Manchester and not at Wembley - and people came out in force.
In fact, it’s England’s largest attendance in a game not at Wembley Stadium.
They would go on to defeat Austria 1-0 in a nervy affair.
9. Great Britain vs Brazil, July 31 2012 - 70,584 (Wembley Stadium)
Another tournament on home soil, Hope Powell’s Great Britain side took on Brazil in the third game of the group stage of the 2012 Olympics.
With people from across the world in the country for the Olympic Games there was no doubt there would be a massive crowd between two powerhouses.
The Brits would secure a 1-0 victory over the South Americans but would bow out in the next stage against Canada.
8. Chelsea vs Manchester United, May 14 2023 - 77,390 (Wembley Stadium)
The first club game on our list and the most recent game to take place.
The 2023 Women’s FA Cup final brought in the largest attendance for a domestic competition.
Chelsea have been dominant for years with the likes of Sam Kerr in the lineup, but Manchester United had presented a tough challenge throughout the entire season.
In the end, however, it was the Australian who made the difference scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for the Blues.
The game was a great indication of just how much the interest in women’s football had risen in England following Euro 2022.
7. England vs Germany, November 9 2019 - 77,768 (Wembley Stadium)
Another game to take place at Wembley Stadium but unfortunately for the majority of the 77,768 fans in attendance the result was not in their favour on this occasion.
England fell 2-1 to Germany on a rainy night at Wembley.
However, it did set a new record for the England Women’s team, however, that did get broken in the years coming - as we will soon see.
6. United States vs Japan, August 9 2012 - 80,203 (Wembley Stadium)
An international game to not include England, albeit it did take place at Wembley yet again.
But the 2012 Olympic Games was a fantastic demonstration of the appetite for women’s football, with fans packing into stadiums to witness some of the game’s best.
This was the final between two always-brilliant teams in the United States and Japan, with the Gold Medal going to the American side.
5. England vs Brazil, April 6 2023 - 83,132 (Wembley Stadium)
Another recent one to make the list in the lead up to the 2023 World Cup.
It was the inaugural Women’s Finalissima, pitting the winners of the 2022 Euros against the winners of the 2022 Copa America.
It was a massive crowd capitalising on the pure love the English had for their women’s team after their success in 2022.
The game went all the way to penalties with the South American side triumphing on that occasion.
4. England vs Germany, July 31 2022 - 87,192 (Wembley Stadium)
This truly felt like a monumental game in women’s football history.
Wembley Stadium again played home to almost 90,000 people who witnessed England capture their first-ever major title.
Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly wrote themselves into English football history with a 2-1 win in extra time.
The attendance made headlines across the world, a perfect precursor to the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
3. United States vs China, July 10 1999 - 90,185 (Rose Bowl)
The largest attendance for an international women’s football game was the final for the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
With a team as prolific and beloved as America there’s no surprised they packed out the Rose Bowl to see their team take on China in the World Cup final.
It was a 0-0 draw in normal time, but thankfully for the 90,000+ they witnessed their team triumph on penalties.
They also had the privilege of seeing the most iconic celebration in women’s football history as Brandi Chastain converted the winning spot-kick, whipped off her shirt, pumped her fists, and fell to her knees.
It was a record that stood for almost 23 years.
2. Barcelona vs Real Madrid, March 30 2022 - 91,553 (Camp Nou)
The El Clasico set a new attendance record for the women’s game in the quarter-final of the 2021/22 Champions League.
91,000 were in attendance to see two of the best club side’s in football take each other on in one of the greatest rivalries in football.
With some of the world’s best players in the team, the two Spanish sides put on a show for the masses.
After leading 3-1 from the first leg, Barcelona progressed to the semi-finals with a 5-2 victory at the Camp Nou.
1.Barcelona vs Wolfsburg, April 22 2022 - 91,648 (Camp Nou)
After breaking the women’s football attendance record just a few weeks earlier, the Camp Nou did it once again.
It was the first-leg of the semi-final pitting Barcelona against Wolfsburg and thankfully for the Spanish crowd the team once against looked dominant as they brushed the German’s aside with a 5-1 win.
It was just 95 people more that broke the record set in the quarter-final, but enough to put it number one on the list.
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Topics: Football, Womens Football
Jayden Collins