Women’s football since the round leather game was invented has been playing the catch-up game with men’s football, but in recent years positive strides have been made considerably in the sport.
While the scale of growth in women’s games can be seen in the level of merchandise and most importantly massive attendance at fixtures attracted by the woman’s club football, it’s a pointer to the fact that female football is up on the raise.
Record attendance Women’s club Football
- Barcelona vs Lyon – (32,257 – 2022)
Queen of Women’s Champions League Lyon was crowned the winner after beating holder Barcelona to extend their trophies won in the competition to make it their eighth trophy won in the competition this year.
Amandine Henry, Ada Hegerberg, and Catarina Macario ignited a classic champions league night in the final for the French giant with their goals to triumph over Barcelona on a night that saw 32, 257 fans attended the game.
- Paris Saint Germain vs Lyon – (43,255 – 2022)
Paris Saint Germain Champions League semi-final second leg against Lyon was another commending catch-up in terms of growth for Women’s football with a total of 43, 255 fans in attendance.
The Parisians’ were beaten 2-1 on the night by Lyon who had won the first leg 3-2 a week earlier to advance to the final of the Women’s Champions League which they eventually won to make it their eighth title.
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- Athletic Bilbao vs Atletico Madrid – (48,121- 2019)
Copa de la Reina final between Bilbao and Atletico Madrid was the first women’s game to set a new world record attendance in Spain when 48,121 fans filled the San Mames stadium to see their respective teams in action.
The attendance at the stadium broke the previous record held by Bilbao which was set in 2003 when 35,000 fans came to watch the Basque side beat Sevilla to clinch the Spanish league title.
- Lyon vs Frankfurt – (50,212 – 2012)
No team since Umea IK won the second and third editions of the UEFA Women’s Champions League respectively in 2002-03 and 2003-04 had successfully defended the title.
But on a night when many thought the three-time champions of the competition Frankfurt will give Lyon a run for their money, the Ligue 1 Feminine eased to victory in front of 50, 212 fans at Munich’s Olympiastadion stadium in Germany.
- Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona – (60,739 – 2018)
The popularity of Women’s football in Spain continues to be on the raise when Atletico Madrid Femeni set a new world record attendance for the female match between two wonderful clubs side when they faced Barcelona during a league game.
Before now Atletico usually play their home games at the club’s training ground but the demand for tickets forced them to move the game to the newly opened 68,000-capacity Wanda Metropolitano to accommodate more fans.
- Barcelona vs Real Madrid – (91,553 – 2022)
A total of 91,553 cheering fans were present at the Women’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The clash between the two teams set the record for the largest ever attendance for a woman’s football match surpassing the 90,185 spectators that attended the final of the 1999 World Cup between China and the USA.
- Barcelona vs Wolfsburg – (91,648 – 2022)
When the game between Barcelona femeni and Real Madrid saw 90,185 spectators troop into the Nou Camp, we all thought that was the end of what women’s football could attract in terms of attendance.
But surprisingly Barcelona broke their own record attendance for a women’s football match in their 5-1 rout of Wolfsburg in the first leg of their semi-finals clash where Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas led her team to a comfortable victory.
FAQ
When was the previous record for largest attendance in a women’s game set?
The previous record crowd for a women’s game had only been set by Barca in March 2022, when 91,553 people attended their quarterfinal against Real Madrid.
Is women’s football in FIFA?
EA SPORTS™ FIFA 23 will feature women’s club teams for the first time with the inclusion of the Barclays Women’s Super League and Division 1 Arkema at launch, extending its position as the world’s most authentic football experience.
Do people watch female soccer?
1.5 million people watching the last women’s FA Cup final and bigger audiences are guaranteed as the season comes to a conclusion. Perhaps the most significant number is the 6.2 million people who watched live WSL games in 2021 without watching a Premier League game on TV.
Can you create female players in FIFA?
EA has announced users will be able to play as women in FIFA 22’s Pro Clubs mode. FIFA players will be able to create and customize a female virtual pro for the first time in the game’s history.
What year was women’s football banned?
1921: The FA bans women from playing on Football League grounds.
