FIFA Women’s World Cup 2024 is the best ever attended women’s event ever and might pass through the per-match record of Canada in 2015, Football Australia (FA) chief executive James Johnson said on Friday while briefing the press.
The Chief also believes that the success of this mega women’s football event might accelerate the chances of Australia hosting the Men’s event too.
He further added that more audiences have joined this year’s Australia event than any other women’s World Cup.
Up to this point, more than 1.2 million people have attended the event during the league stage in Australia and New Zealand and the organizers further expect the number to reach 1.9 by the end of the tournament.
The chief said that their target was to reach 1.5 million, a target which will be easily surpassed and lately they have been hearing stories about record-breaking numbers of broadcasting.
The addition of a few more teams in the event has increased the number of games to 64, twelve more than Canada’s World Cup in 2015.
The number of average attendees in 2015 was nearly around 26000, while this year the event witnessed an average of 30000 fans which is increasing the craze of women’s football on a large scale.
Australia’s Sydney Stadium witnessed a record-breaking number of 40000 thousand fans on Wednesday during the clash between France and Panama where France took the victory 6-3. The merchandise sales are thriving and competition appears to be gaining the interest of people in host nations where soccer/football hasn’t typically been the main focus.
John also said that the Matilda jersey is surpassing the Socceroos jersey from the men’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar with a ratio of two to one. Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has the largest number of selling jerseys.
He further added that they prioritizing funding for both Matilda and Socceroos jerseys and that thing is very crucial for them.
According to the research, Matilda ranks third in national popularity after men’s soccer and cricket teams, however, they have surpassed men’s rugby union and other rugby league squads. The chief stated Matilda as a “Powerful Brand”. It is known across various cities and towns in the country.
Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president attended the clash between Australia and Canada in Melbourne and also described the tournament as the “best ever” World Cup. Johnson said that success in the tournament will encourage the country to bid for the Club World Cup in 2029 and the Men’s World Cup in 2034.
After hosting the women’s event in 2015, Canada is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup alongside their neighbours United States of America and Mexico.
The FA head also believes that the country will undoubtedly host the men’s World Cup one day.
Matildas Enter Quarterfinals: Caitlin Foord Confident in Team’s Abilities
The Matildas struggled against Nigeria with a surprising defeat in their group-stage game and are now in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler helped the team to crash Denmark in the round of the top 16 in Sydney. The Australian side will face France vs Morocco winner in the quarter-finals.
The Sydney stadium witnessed 76000 thousand spectators during the game.
Arsenal forward Caitlin said that “they can beat anyone if they keep performing the same”’
The 20-year-old Mary’s performance was remarkable with accurate passes, one down in the left which led Caitlin to score a goal.
The skipper Sam Kerr had missed the tournament due to a calf injury and made a comeback in their game against Denmark. Foord said that Kerr’s return will give a massive boost to their side.
