More than 300,000 spectators have attended the first 14 games of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the average crowd exceeding 21,500 at New Zealand venues.
Almost half the New Zealand-hosted games have been played, with 15 more to come.
Auckland’s Eden Park has so far drawn 135,116 spectators (average 33,779) for the four games played there, while Wellington’s Sky Stadium has catered for 100,852 spectators (average 25,238) at its four matches.
Main photo: The Football Ferns and the champion United States have been the biggest drawcards so far. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
For comparison, the women’s Rugby World Cup held in New Zealand in 2022 drew 150,179 spectators to its 26 games (average 5,776).
In 2011, when New Zealand hosted the men’s Rugby World Cup, the 48-match tournament attracted 1,477,294 spectators (average 30,777). Attendances were helped by larger capacities at Eden Park and Wellington Stadium which could hold 60,000 each before their redevelopment.
The story so far
Attendances for the games played so far in New Zealand (in order of size):
42,137 — New Zealand v Norway (Eden Park, Auckland)
41,107 — United States v Vietnam (Eden Park, Auckland)
32,357 — New Zealand v Philippines (Sky Stadium, Wellington)
30,889 — Italy v Argentina (Eden Park, Auckland)
27,312 — United States v Netherlands (Sky Stadium, Wellington)
22,966 — Spain v Costa Rica (Sky Stadium, Wellington)
20,983 — Spain v Zambia (Eden Park, Auckland)
18,317 — Sweden v South Africa (Sky Stadium, Wellington)
16,111 — Zambia v Japan (FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton)
13,711 — Philippines v Switzerland (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
11,991 — Netherlands v Portugal (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
10,769 — Switzerland v Norway (FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton)
6,992 — Japan v Costa Rica (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)
6,645 — Portugal v Vietnam (FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamiton)
Total attendance: 302,287
Average attendance: 21,592
READ MORE: Record books rewritten as crowds get behind FIFA Women’s World Cup >>>>
Fixtures to come
Of the remaining 15 games, Eden Park will host five, including a Round of 16 tie, a quarter-final and a semi-final.
Wellington’s Sky Stadium will host five games, including a Round of 16 tie and a quarter-final.
Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium has three matches remaining, including the New Zealand v Switzerland game on Sunday July 30, which is expected to fill the stadium.
Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato has two more games to go.
Auckland
Sunday July 30, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Norway (#12) v Philippines (#46)
Tuesday August 1, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Portugal (#21) v United States (#1)
Saturday August 5, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Round of sixteen (winner Group A v runners-up Group C)
Friday August 11, 2023, 7.30pm (NZT)
Quarter-final
Tuesday August 15, 2023, 8pm (NZT)
Semi-final
Hamilton
Monday July 31, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Costa Rica (#36) v Zambia (#77)
Wednesday August 2, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Argentina (#28) v Sweden (#3)
Wellington
Saturday July 29, 2023, 7.30pm (NZT)
Sweden (#3) v Italy (#16)
Monday July 31, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Japan (#11) v Spain (#6)
Wednesday August 2, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
South Africa (#54) v Italy (#16)
Saturday August 5, 2023, 8pm (NZT)
Round of sixteen (Winners Group C v runners-up Group A)
Friday August 11, 2023, 1pm (NZT)
Quarter-final
Dunedin
Friday July 28, 2023, 12pm (NZT)
Argentina (#28) v South Africa (#54)
Sunday July 30, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Switzerland (#20) v New Zealand (#26)
Tuesday August 1, 2023, 7pm (NZT)
Vietnam (#32) v Netherlands (#9)
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