Record-Breaking Attendance at Women’s European Championship
The recently concluded group stage of the Women’s European Championship has shattered attendance records, drawing nearly 500,000 spectators over the course of the matches. Impressively, 22 out of the 24 matches were sold out, according to statistics released by UEFA, the governing body of European football. A total of 461,582 fans turned out to witness the action, during which several significant attendance records were established.
Highlights of the Matches
Notably, the match between Germany and Denmark held in Basel attracted 34,165 spectators, marking the highest attendance for a group match that did not feature the host nation. This event also became a defining moment for women’s sports in Switzerland, as it represented the largest crowd ever to attend a women’s football match in the country. Additionally, the large turnout of over 17,000 German fans at this event set a record for the most away supporters at a women’s Euro match.
Another standout moment was Switzerland’s clash with Norway, which saw 34,063 fans in attendance. This figure now stands as the highest recorded for a Swiss women’s national team match. Nadine Kessler, who leads UEFA’s women’s football sector, highlighted the significance of these records:
“If it wasn’t clear before, it is undeniable now — women’s football is unstoppable and here to stay. This is more than a tournament; it’s a movement, and the interest from across Europe demonstrates that women’s football is not just enduring — it is raising the bar.”
Looking Ahead
In anticipation of future events, ticket sales for Euro 2025 have already surpassed 600,000, exceeding the previous record of 574,875 tickets sold for the tournament in England in 2022. Moreover, the tournament has engaged audiences on digital platforms, reporting 8.4 million social media interactions, a remarkable 55% increase from the same period last year.
Fan Engagement and Performance
Fans have also expressed their enthusiasm through organized walks to the stadiums, with around 60,000 participants joining in, including 14,000 supporters from Switzerland and Iceland who walked three kilometers to the match at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern. In terms of performance, both Spain and England scored 14 goals each during the group stage, matching the tally set by England in the previous edition of the tournament. Additionally, Jess Fishlock of Wales made history as the oldest goalscorer in the women’s Euros, achieving this feat at the age of 38 years and 176 days.
The quarterfinals are set to commence on Wednesday in Geneva, with Norway facing Italy.
