
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.
Domestic leagues

Seven fixtures have attracted leading attendances on more than one occasion: the North London derby, the Athletic–Barcelona clásico, 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.
Domestic cups
Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Match | Venue | Attendance | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 May 2023 | Chelsea | 1–0 | Manchester United | FA Cup final | ![]() |
77,390 | [2] |
30 January 2019 | Athletic Club | 0–2 | Atlético Madrid | Copa de la Reina quarter-final | ![]() |
48,121 | [35] |
14 October 2023 | Aniquiladoras | 0–0 (2–1 p) | PIO | Queens Cup semi-final | ![]() |
30,044 † * | [36] |
Saiyans | 1–2 | Aniquiladoras | Queens Cup final | ||||
28 March 1971 | Sant Andreu | 2–1 | Sabadell | Catalunya Copa Pernod third-place play-off | ![]() |
30,000 | [37] |
Barcelona | 1–2 | Espanyol | Catalunya Copa Pernod final | ||||
23 May 2010 | Athletic Club | 0–2 | Barcelona | Copa de la Reina quarter-final | ![]() |
[23] |
* As part of a double-header or other event also featuring men's football matches.
† Non-regulation league.
Intercontinental tournaments
Date | Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Match | Venue | Attendance | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 April 2022 | ![]() |
5–1 | ![]() |
Champions League semi-final | ![]() |
91,648 | [2] |
30 March 2022 | ![]() |
5–2 | ![]() |
Champions League quarter-final | 91,553 | ||
2 May 2023 | ![]() |
2–3 | ![]() |
Champions League semi-final | ![]() |
60,063 | |
21 March 2023 | ![]() |
0–1 | ![]() |
Champions League quarter-final | ![]() |
39,454 | [38] |
International matches
Competitive matches
‡ This event, organised without FIFA approval, was not officially recognised. Attendance figures are estimates.[66][40]
International friendlies
Date | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Attendance | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 November 2019 | ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
![]() |
77,768 | [2][67] |
7 October 2022 | ![]() |
2–1 | ![]() |
76,893 | [68] | |
14 July 2022 | ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
![]() |
50,629 | [69] |
23 November 2014 | ![]() |
0–3 | ![]() |
![]() |
45,619 | [70] |
World record progression
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][71][1]
Date | Match | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
25 December 1917 | Dick, Kerr Ladies 4–0 Arundel Coulthard Factory (charity friendly) | ![]() |
10,000[72] |
26 December 1917 | North of Ireland 1–4 Tyneside (friendly) | ![]() |
20,000[73] |
29 April 1920 | Dick, Kerr Ladies 2–0 France XI (charity friendly) Δ | ![]() |
25,000[74] |
27 December 1920 | Dick, Kerr Ladies 4–0 St Helens (charity friendly) | ![]() |
53,000 |
25 December 1970 | Barcelona 0–0 (4–3 p) Centelles (exhibition cup) | ![]() |
60,000 † * |
15 August 1971 | Mexico 3–1 Argentina (Mundial group stage) | ![]() |
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) | ![]() |
90,185 |
30 March 2022 | Barcelona 5–2 Real Madrid (Champions League quarter-final) | ![]() |
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.[75]
‡ This event, organised without FIFA approval, was not officially recognised. Attendance figures are estimates.[39][66][40]
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.[76]
See also
References
- 1 2 "The secret history of women's football". BBC News. 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Parker Humphreys, Jessy; Pope, Conor (2022-03-31). "Ranked! The 14 biggest women's football attendances ever". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "What is the women's football attendance record? | Goal.com UK". www.goal.com. July 20, 2023.
- ↑ "Largest attendance at a women's football (soccer) club match | Guinness World Records". June 17, 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17.
- 1 2 "60.739 espectadores en el Wanda: récord de un partido femenino a nivel de clubes" (in Spanish). Marca. 17 March 2019.
- ↑ "América vs Tigres, el 'Nuevo Clásico' del futbol mexicano". Marca México (in Mexican Spanish). 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "History of the Cascadia Rivalry". OL Reign. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ↑ "San Diego Wave FC Announces Details for Rivalry Night, Presented by Kaiser Permanente". San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ↑ "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional". ligabbvafemenil.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ Villaescusa, Luis (2023-07-29). "La finales de la Kings y la Queens League se desinflan en el Metropolitano". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ Burhan, Asif. "Liverpool Women Stun Arsenal In Front Of Record WSL Attendance". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "Liga MX Femenil: La Final entre América y Tigres en el Azteca impone récord de asistencia | TUDN Liga MX Femenil | TUDN". www.tudn.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "North London derby sets new record". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (2023-01-15). "Sam Kerr pounces late to deny Arsenal and keep Chelsea top of WSL table". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- 1 2 "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional". ligabbvafemenil.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ Rosa, Moisés La (2023-09-02). "¡Histórico! Universitario bate récord de asistencia en un partido femenino en Sudamérica". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ Evans, Jayda (June 3, 2023). "OL Reign lose to Thorns for first time since 2019 to cap soccer twinbill". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ↑ "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional". ligabbvafemenil.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional". ligabbvafemenil.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ Hayward, Ben (2023-11-19). "Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid: Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati on target as Catalans thrash rivals in women's Clasico". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (2019-11-17). "Record crowd sees Miedema seal 2-0 Arsenal win in WSL north London derby". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional". ligabbvafemenil.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- 1 2 3 4 "17 años del primer partido del Athletic femenino en San Mamés | Athletic Club". www.athletic-club.eus. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "El Athletic femenino conquista la Superliga ante unos 35.000 espectadores". El País (in Spanish). 2003-04-28. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ Alexander, Rachel (April 15, 2001). "At Last, It's Women First". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- ↑ Anderson, Jason (October 6, 2023). "OL Reign sets standalone NWSL attendance record for Rapinoe farewell game". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- ↑ Rivas, Jon (2020-01-05). "32.068 espectadores en el Athletic-Barça femenino en San Mamés". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ Torres, Mauricio (2022-10-01). "Tigres (2-2) Monterrey: Resumen del partido y goles". Diario AS (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "Monterrey vs. Tigres UANL - 26 March 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional". ligabbvafemenil.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "Récord en la Primera Iberdrola: 28.367 espectadores para ver el derbi vasco". El Español (in Spanish). 2019-10-13. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "LIGA MX Femenil - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional". ligabbvafemenil.mx. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "OL Reign 2-1 Portland Thorns FC (Aug 29, 2021) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ↑ Pedraza, Jacobo (2018-09-10). "España es una potencia (también) en fútbol femenino". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ Sport (2022-03-31). "Femenino | ¿Cuál es el récord de asistencia en un partido de fútbol femenino en España?". sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "La afición de La Rosaleda convirtió las Kings & Queens Finals en inolvidables: Asi vivimos las finales de Málaga". MARCA (in Spanish). 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "49 years since first women's football final in Catalonia". www.fcbarcelona.com. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ↑ "Roma set Italian attendance record with slim loss to Barcelona in UWCL". ABC News. March 21, 2023 – via www.abc.net.au.
- 1 2 3 "Mundial (Women) 1971". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 Oinam, Jayanta (13 August 2023). "Camp Nou and the world record attendance for a women's match". FIFA.
- ↑ Longman, Jere (July 11, 1999). "Refusing to Wilt, U.S. Wins Soccer Title". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- ↑ UEFA.com (31 July 2022). "England 2–1 Germany (aet): Kelly gives Lionesses Wembley final triumph". UEFA. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ↑ "England 1-1 Brazil (6 Apr, 2023) Game Analysis - ESPN (UK)". ESPN. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "Australia 1-0 Republic of Ireland". FIFA. 20 Jul 2023.
- ↑ "Australia 2-0 Denmark". FIFA. 7 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "England 2-1 Colombia". FIFA. 12 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "Australia 1-3 England". FIFA. 16 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "Spain 1-0 England". FIFA. 20 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "Biggest Women's EURO crowds: Attendance record smashed in 2022 opener". UEFA.com. 8 July 2022.
- ↑ "WATCH: CommBank Matildas emphatically defeat Philippines 8-0 | Matildas". www.matildas.com.au. 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "England (4) 0 - 0( 2) Nigeria". FIFA. 7 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "Australia (7) 0 - 0 (6) France". FIFA. 12 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "Sweden 2-0 Australia". FIFA. 19 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "France 2-1 Brazil". FIFA. 29 Jul 2023.
- ↑ "Australia 2-3 Nigeria". FIFA. 27 Jul 2023.
- ↑ "England 1-0 Haiti". FIFA. 22 Jul 2023.
- ↑ "Switzerland 1-5 Spain". FIFA. 4 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "Spain 2-1 Sweden". FIFA. 15 Aug 2023.
- ↑ Rollo, Phillip (21 July 2023). "FIFA Women's World Cup: Record crowd spurs Football Ferns to historic win". Stuff.
- ↑ UEFA.com. "England-Scotland | UEFA Women's Nations League 2023/24". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "USWNT vs. Vietnam: Match Recap, Stats & Standings". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "USWNT vs. Portugal - Match Recap, Stats & Standings". www.ussoccer.com.
- ↑ "Germany 1-2 Colombia". FIFA. 30 Jul 2023.
- ↑ "Panama 3-6 France". FIFA. 2 Aug 2023.
- ↑ "England 1-0 Denmark". FIFA. 28 Jul 2023.
- 1 2 Pond, Steve (2023-09-07). "'Copa 71' Review: Women's Soccer Documentary Uncovers Lost Tournament". TheWrap. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "England Women 1–2 Germany Women: Lionesses lose late on in front of record Wembley crowd". Sky Sports.
- ↑ "England Women 2-1 USA Women: Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway help Lionesses to friendly victory at Wembley". Sky Sports.
- ↑ "WATCH: CommBank Matildas complete World Cup preparations in style | Matildas". www.matildas.com.au. 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "Germany too strong during historic Wembley match". www.thefa.com. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ "The Boxing Day game that changed women's football". BBC News. 2020-12-26. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
- ↑ "Twelve Games of Christmas: Dick, Kerr Ladies | National Football Museum". Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - Home Front - The Forgotten First International Women's Football Match". BBC. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ↑ "Football Féminin". donmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ↑ Burhan, Asif. "Camp Nou To Host Spanish Women's League Match For The First Time". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
- ↑ "History of women's football". The FA. 2009. Archived from the original on 1 April 2009.