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Fans establish new records at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

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While much of the attention at major tournaments is focused towards action on the pitch, no football event is complete without passionate support from the stands, given they always provide the colour and atmosphere surrounding matches. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is certainly proving to be a great example, thanks to fans attending stadiums in huge numbers and smashing previous records.

 

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The tournament itself has produced some remarkable outcomes, particularly with the United States eliminated in the Round of 16, despite being expected to clinch their third consecutive crown. However, new favourites are now emerging in the Women’s World Cup betting arena, following the shock elimination of the US by Sweden on penalties. Indeed, the tournament is wide open and this will undoubtedly provide fans with even more excitement.
But aside from the action and if the tournament itself has been any indication to date, choosing Australia and New Zealand as the joint hosts was an excellent decision by FIFA, given that organisers have placed a great emphasis on fan experiences. Likewise, this has undoubtedly boosted increased engagement by supporters, leading to various attendance records being shattered.

Best Attended

According to Reuters, this ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup has now become the best attended. The new record was established after Sweden beat the United States, when 27,706 filled the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Sunday 6th August, raising the total attendance to 1,367,037 fans. The previous total attendance record was 1,353,506 in Canada in 2015, while France (in 2019) registered 1,131,312 in total attendance.

Clearly, there is now a greater appreciation for the women’s game around the globe, which is one reason why organisers had already made ambitious predictions, ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. They have also pulled out all the stops to encourage the recent success, including some innovative ideas to encourage fan engagement inside and around match venues.

FIFA Fan Festival

For the first time in tournament history, the 2023 Women’s World Cup has incorporated the FIFA Fan Festival concept, providing those in attendance with plenty to keep them entertained. Rolled out at all nine host cities in Australia and New Zealand, most activities are obviously showcasing women’s football and the tournament itself. But they also include a wealth of music and entertainment, plus examples of local culture and cuisine.

Inclusion

The core idea behind this initiative is to promote inclusion and participation, as the host venues welcome local and international fans alike, laying on a wide variety of activities and entertainment. This undoubtedly elevates the festival atmosphere accompanying the tournament itself, while contributing towards the spectacular crowds witnessed at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Inside the stadiums, fans are also enjoying some wonderful interactions with the teams, as players recognise the value that supporters bring to games. They appear to be genuinely appreciative of the support they receive, highlighted by many players taking the time to meet and greet fans, along with taking selfies and soaking up the overall euphoria.

Hopefully, the wonderful atmosphere at this tournament will set the benchmark for future events, indicating that fan engagement is fundamental towards encouraging them to attend games.