Women's association football is a popular sport, though less watched than the equivalent men's game in most markets. In the early 20th century, women's football thrived in England, seeing crowds equal to or larger than men's football matches; between the 1920s and 1970s, women's football was banned from existing in official capacities in England and various other regions, setting it back. [1] While most men's association football attendance records were set in the 20th century, record crowds in the women's game have been set predominantly in the 21st century.
The record attendance of a women's football match is 91,648, set during a UEFA Women's Champions League match between Barcelona Femení and Wolfsburg at the Camp Nou on 22 April 2022. [2] [3] [4] Barcelona also played, against Atlético Madrid, in the match at the Metropolitano Stadium which holds the domestic league attendance record of 60,739. [5] Including records not officially recognised due to unsanctioned matches, Barcelona, Dick, Kerr Ladies F.C. and the Mexico women's national team have each set the world record attendance the most times, at three each.
Nine fixtures have attracted leading attendances on more than one occasion: the North London derby, the Athletic–Barcelona clásico, the Arsenal–Chelsea derby, Arsenal-Manchester United, the Clásico Regiomontano, the Nuevo Clásico, [6] the Súper Clásico, the Cascadia Rivalry [7] and the Southern California Rivalry. [8]
* As part of a double-header or other event also featuring men's football matches.
† Non-regulation league.
Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Match | Venue | Attendance | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 May 2023 | Chelsea | 1–0 | Manchester United | FA Cup final | Wembley Stadium, London | 77,390 | [2] |
30 January 2019 | Athletic Club | 0–2 | Atlético Madrid | Copa de la Reina quarter-final | San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao | 48,121 | [44] |
14 October 2023 | Aniquiladoras | 0–0 (2–1 p) | PIO | Queens Cup semi-final | La Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga | 30,044 † * | [45] |
Saiyans | 1–2 | Aniquiladoras | Queens Cup final | ||||
28 March 1971 | Sant Andreu | 2–1 | Sabadell | Catalunya Copa Pernod third-place play-off | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 30,000 | [46] |
Barcelona | 1–2 | Espanyol | Catalunya Copa Pernod final | ||||
23 May 2010 | Athletic Club | 0–2 | Barcelona | Copa de la Reina quarter-final | San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao | [31] |
* As part of a double-header or other event also featuring men's football matches.
† Non-regulation league.
‡ This event, organised without FIFA approval, was not officially recognised. Attendance figures are estimates. [76] [50]
Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 November 2019 | England | 1–2 | Germany | Wembley Stadium, London | 77,768 | [2] [77] |
7 October 2022 | England | 2–1 | United States | 76,893 | [78] | |
14 July 2022 | Australia | 1–0 | France | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne | 50,629 | [79] |
23 November 2014 | England | 0–3 | Germany | Wembley Stadium, London | 45,619 | [80] |
Since the first record attendance for a women's football match was set in the early 20th century, it has been superseded several times. In various nations, women's football was banned for roughly the same period, from the 1920s to the 1970s. [2] [81] [1]
Date | Match | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
25 December 1917 | Dick, Kerr Ladies 4–0 Arundel Coulthard Factory (charity friendly) | Deepdale, Preston | 10,000 [82] |
26 December 1917 | North of Ireland 1–4 Tyneside (friendly) | Grosvenor Park, Belfast | 20,000 [83] |
29 April 1920 | Dick, Kerr Ladies 2–0 France XI (charity friendly) Δ | Deepdale, Preston | 25,000 [84] |
27 December 1920 | Dick, Kerr Ladies 4–0 St Helens (charity friendly) | Goodison Park, Liverpool | 53,000 |
25 December 1970 | Barcelona 0–0 (4–3 p) Centelles (exhibition cup) | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 60,000 † * |
15 August 1971 | Mexico 3–1 Argentina (Mundial group stage) | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 90,000 ‡ |
22 August 1971 | Mexico 4–0 England (Mundial group stage) | ||
5 September 1971 | Mexico 0–3 Denmark (Mundial final) | 110,000 ‡ | |
10 July 1999 | United States 0–0 (5–4 p) China (World Cup final) | Rose Bowl, Los Angeles | 90,185 |
30 March 2022 | Barcelona 5–2 Real Madrid (Champions League quarter-final) | Camp Nou, Barcelona | 91,553 |
22 April 2022 | Barcelona 5–1 Wolfsburg (Champions League semi-final) | 91,648 |
* As part of a double-header or other event also featuring men's football matches.
† Due to the non-regulation format of this match, it is not considered an official record. Barcelona played official matches to crowds of around 40,000 in 1971. [85]
‡ This event, organised without FIFA approval, was not officially recognised. Attendance figures are estimates. [49] [76] [50]
Δ Dick, Kerr Ladies was credited as England in this match, which the Football Association described in 2009 as the first women's international match. [86]
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