MORE than 500,000 tickets have been snapped up by fans for this year’s Women’s World Cup before the tournament’s start in July.
And tickets for the August 20 final at Stadium Australia are thought to be attracting the most interest.
Fifa says supporters from more than 120 countries have bought tickets for the contest in Australia and New Zealand with sales passing the half a million mark last week.
The tournament, which is being staged for the ninth time, will kick off on July 20 with co-hosts New Zealand and Australia facing Norway and the Republic of Ireland.
The Football Ferns will play Norway in their opening game at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
Meanwhile the Matildas, who are skippered by Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, will take on Vera Pauw’s Republic of Ireland side with their game potentially set for a venue switch due to popular demand for tickets.
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Last week the Irish Independent reported their fixture could be moved to the 83,500-seater Stadium Australia.
The Republic of Ireland is claimed to be ranking among the top ten nations for ticket buys.
Their team is set to make history by competing in the tournament for the first time in their 50-year existence.
England is also said to be among the nations with the highest number of tickets sold following the Lionesses’ triumph at last summer’s Euros.
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A record crowd of more than 87,000 people turned out to watch them beat Germany at Wembley in July last year
Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura said: “Fans residing in the United States of America, England, Qatar, Germany, China, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and France are the top 10 purchasers of Women’s World Cup 2023 tickets so far.
“This highlights the fantastic pull of the female game and the passion it evokes among the global football fandom, who want to be part of the tournament.”
This year’s World Cup is set to be the first one in which a total of 32 nations will compete following the contest expanding from a 24-team competition.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses are among the sides considered to be favourites to go all the way along with co-hosts Australia and four-time World Cup winners the USA.
Olympic gold medallists Canada and Euros 2022 finalists Germany are also considered among the favourites along with Sweden, Copa America Feminina champs Brazil, Spain and France.
Aside from the Republic of Ireland, this year’s contest will see Morocco, the Philippines, Vietnam and Zambia competing in the contest for the first time.
A play-off tournament to decide which nations fill the World Cup’s three vacant group stage spots will take place from February 17-23 in New Zealand.
The 10 countries who will battle for those slots are Portugal, Cameroon, Thailand, Chile, Haiti, Senegal, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Panama.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
