Women’s World Cup By the Numbers

This year’s Women’s World Cup proves what many have known – people watch women’s sports, and there is tremendous value. It is “expected [to] be the most attended standalone women's sporting event ever,” and the numbers don’t stop there. 

1.7 MILLION

On August 15, 2023, FIFA's international governing body announced they sold 1.77 million tickets for the co-hosted tournament in Australia and New Zealand. These ticket sale numbers are a growth of 7,000 from the average game attendance during the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France (NBC).

7.2 MILLION

According to Australia’s Seven Network, which carried the Australia vs. France nail-biter, their audience peaked at 7.2 million viewers (NBC). It is the most-watched program in 20 years (togethxr). 

6.43 MILLION

For the US Women’s National Team 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, nearly 6.43 million people tuned in. It is now the most-watched group stage match in women’s World Cup history for an English broadcast (Forbes). 

$135.4 MILLION

The Australian Women’s National Team, better known as “The Matildas,” entered the tournament valued at $24.8 million but is expected to be valued at $135.4 million. “This makes them Australia’s most valuable sports team” (togethxr). 

Perhaps no quote best summarizes the growing numbers and excitement around women’s soccer more than an Australian match announcer’s statement that “This is the moment we stop calling it women’s football, it’s just football,” he said, adding, “This World Cup will go down in history as the moment it went mainstream” (NBC).