The FIFA Women’s World Cup has rewritten the record books for New Zealand’s biggest match attendances, with crowds packing into Auckland’s Eden Park and Wellington’s Sky Stadium.
The 10 biggest attendances for women’s matches in New Zealand occurred at the tournament.
New Zealand’s opening game against Norway set a benchmark of 42,137 and the world champion United States beat Vietnam 3-0 at the same Eden Park venue two days later.
Main photo: The Eden Park crowd learns they have equalled the all-time attendance record at the Japan-Sweden game on Friday August 11, 2023.
These two crowds were then eclipsed when the United States’ final group game against Portugal drew 42,958 to Eden Park.
A new record was then set by Switzerland and Spain who drew 43,217 to Eden Park for their Round of 16 game on August 5. This record was matched a week later when Sweden beat Japan 2-1 at Eden Park.
The capacity 43,217 was reached again for Spain’s 2-1 semi-final win against Sweden.
Before the tournament, the biggest crowd to ever watch a game of women’s football in New Zealand was at North Harbour Stadium in 2008 when 16,162 turned up to watch the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup between the United States and North Korea.
However, it was a double header with England and Germany playing the early game.
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For the record
Here are the largest attendances for women’s football matches in New Zealand:
43,217=
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Saturday August 5, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
Switzerland 1 (own goal 11′)
Spain 5 (Aitana Bonmati 5′, 36′, Alba Redondo 17′, Laia Codina 45′, Jennifer Hermoso 70′)
43,217=
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Friday August 11, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
Japan 1 (Honoka Hayashi 87′)
Sweden 2 (Amanda Ilestedt 32′, Filippa Angeldal 51′ pen)
READ MORE: Highlights from quarter-final at Eden Park >>>>
43,217=
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Tuesday August 15, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
Spain 2 (Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono 81′, Olga Carmona 89′)
Sweden 1 (Rebecka Blomqvist 88′)
READ MORE: Highlights from semi-final at Eden Park >>>>
42,958
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Tuesday August 1, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
United States 0
Portugal 0
READ MORE: New crowd record set as 42,958 pack Auckland’s Eden Park >>>>
42,137
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Thursday July 20, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand 1 (Hannah Wilkinson 48′)
Norway 0
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41,107
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Saturday July 22, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
United States 3 (Sophia Smith 14′, 45+7′, Lindsey Horan 77′)
Vietnam 0
34,697
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Sunday July 30, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
Norway 6 (Sophie Román Haug 6′, 17′, 90+5′, Caroline Graham Hansen 31′, own goal 48′, Guro Reiten 53′ pen)
Philippines 0
READ MORE: Agonising end to FIFA Women’s World Cup for Ferns and their fans >>>>
33,042
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Saturday August 5, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Japan 3 (own goal 15′, Risa Shimizu 50′, Hinata Miyazawa 81′)
Norway 1 (Guro Reiten 20′)
READ MORE: Highlights from Japan’s win against Norway >>>>
32,357
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Tuesday July 25, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand 0
Philippines 1 (Sarina Bolden 24′)
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32,021
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Friday August 11, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Spain 2 (Mariona Caldentey 81′ pen, Salma Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono 111′)
Netherlands 1 (Stefanie van der Gragt 90+1′)
*After extra time
READ MORE: Highlights from quarter-final in Wellington >>>>
30,889
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Monday July 24, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
Italy 1 (Cristiana Girelli 87’)
Argentina 0
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29,143
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Saturday July 29, 2023
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Sweden 5 (Amanda Ilestedt 39′, 50*, Fridolina Rolfö 44′, Stina Blackstenius 45+1′, Rebecka Blomqvist 90+5′)
Italy 0
READ MORE: Highlights from latest FIFA Women’s World Cup game in Wellington >>>>
27,312
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Thursday July 27, 2023
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
United States 1 (Lindsey Horan 62′)
Netherlands 1 (Jill Roord 17′)
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25,947
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Sunday July 30, 2023
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
New Zealand 0
Switzerland 0
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22,966
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Friday July 21, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Spain 3 (own goal 21′, Aitana Bonmati 23′, Esther Gonzalez 27′)
Costa Rica 0
20,983
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Wednesday July 26, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
Spain 5 (Teresa Abelleira 9′, Jennifer Hermoso 13′, 70′, Alba Redondo 69′, 85′)
Zambia 0
20,957
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Monday July 31, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Japan 4 (Hinata Miyazawa 12′, 40′, Riko Ueki 29′, Mina Tanaka 82′)
Spain 0
READ MORE: Highlights from Japan’s win against Spain in Wellington >>>>
18,317
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Sunday July 23, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Sweden 2 (Fridolina Rolfö 65′, Amanda Ilestedt 90′)
South Africa 1 (Hildah Magaia 48′)
17,907
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Wednesday August 2, 2023
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Argentina 0
Sweden 2 (Rebecka Blomqvist 66′, Elin Rubensson 90′ pen)
READ MORE: Highlights from Argentina v Sweden >>>>
16,162
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Games played on Sunday November 16, 2008 (double header)
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland
Play-off for third
England 0
Germany 3 (Wesely 11′, Knaak 74′, Mester 88′)
Final
United States 1 (own goal 2′)
North Korea 2 (Kim Un-hyang 77′, 113′)
*After extra time
16,111
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Saturday July 22, 2023
FMG Stadium Waikato
Zambia 0
Japan 5 (Hinata Miyazawa 43′, 62′, Mina Tanaka 55′, Jun Endo 71′, Riki Ueki 90+11′ pen)
14,967
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Wednesday August 2, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
South Africa 3 (own goal 32′, Hildah Magaia 67′, Thembi Kgatlana 90+2′)
Italy 2 (Arianna Caruso 11′ pen, 74′)
READ MORE: Highlights from South Africa v Italy >>>>
13,711
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Friday July 21, 2023
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Philippines 0
Switzerland 2 (Ramona Bachmann 45′ pen, Seraina Piubel (64′)
13,123
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Game played on Wednesday October 29, 2008
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland
New Zealand 0
Canada 1 (Lamarre 53′)
12,721
International friendly
Game played on Saturday January 21, 2023
Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand 0
United States 5 (Ashley Hatch 22′, Rose Lavelle 38′, 74′, Mallory Swanson 53′, Taylor Kornieck 80′)
READ MORE: Ruthless world champions beat Ferns 5-0 before record crowd at Eden Park >>>>
12,508
International friendly
Game played on Wednesday January 18, 2023
Sky Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand 0
United States 4 (Mallory Swanson 52′, 63′, Alex Morgan 60′, Lynn Williams 74′)
READ MORE: United States show their class with 4-0 win against Ferns before record crowd >>>>
11,991
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Sunday July 23, 2023
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Netherlands 1 (Stefanie van der Gragt 13′)
Portugal 0
11,500
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Games played on Thursday October 30, 2008 (double header)
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Brazil 0
England 3 (Carter 71′, 89′, Bruton 75′)
South Korea 1 (Ji So-Yun 85′)
Nigeria 2 (Adekwagh 1′, Alghewi 60′)
11,170
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Games played on Saturday November 1, 2008 (double header)
North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland
New Zealand 1 (Annemarie Longo 13′)
Denmark 2 (Andreasen 29′, Olsen 56′)
Colombia 1 (Vidal 10′)
Canada 1 (Ezurike 9′)
10,769
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Tuesday July 25, 2023
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Norway 0
Switzerland 0
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8,834
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Friday July 28, 2023
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Argentina 2 (Sophia Braun 74′, Romina Nunez 79′)
South Africa 2 (Linda Mothalo 30′, Thembi Kgatiana 66′)
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8,117
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Monday July 31, 2023
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Costa Rica 1 (Daphne Melissa Herrera Monge 47′)
Zambia 3 (Lushomo Mweemba 3′, Barbra Banda 31′ pen, Racheal Kundananji 90+3′)
READ MORE: Highlights from Zambia’s win against Costa Rica in Hamilton >>>>
7,236
International friendly
Game played on Sunday June 10, 2018
Sky Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand 1 (Meikayla Moore 18′)
Japan 3 (Mina Tanaka 17′, 34′, 43′)
6,992
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Wednesday July 26, 2023
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Japan 2 (Hikaru Naomoto 25′, Aoba Fujino 27′)
Costa Rica 0
6,645
FIFA Women’s World Cup
Game played on Thursday July 27, 2023
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamiton
Portugal 2 (Telma Encarnação 7′, Francisca Nazareth 21′)
Vietnam 0
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6,215
International friendly
Game played on Monday July 10, 2023
McLean Park, Napier
New Zealand 2 (CJ Bott 17′, Jacqui Hand 44′)
Vietnam 0
READ MORE: Ferns restore World Cup optimism with dominant win against Vietnam >>>>
5,213
Liberty Women’s A-League
Game played on Sunday November 20, 2022
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Wellington Phoenix 1 (Ava Pritchard 82′)
Melbourne City 4 (Bryleeh Henry 48′, Maria Rojas 50′, Rhianna Pollicina 65′, 69′)
READ MORE: Record-breaking crowd gets behind Phoenix in women’s A-League opener >>>>
5,037
International friendly
Game played on Saturday November 12, 2022
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
New Zealand 0
Korea Republic 1 (Min-a 31′)
READ MORE: Ferns pull up short as Korea Republic win 1-0 in first of two-match series >>>>
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