August 21 – FIFA said that more than 770,000 people visited Women’s World Cup Fan Festival sites which spanned nine cities across both host nations Australia and New Zealand, the first time every host venue had hosted a fan site.
Attendance at the festivals peaked on August 12 when 68,000 people across all venues watched the Matildas beat France in a dramatic quarter-final.
All 64 matches were shown on large screens for attending fans, as well a host of food and drink options available around the festival.
Meant as an alternative to going to the match, the festivals were an effective way to let fans who were unable to land tickets feel part of the action. The entertainment programme at the festival proudly showcased Australian and Kiwi talent such as Ladyhawke, Jessica Mauboy, Kimbra and San Cisco, as well as up-and-coming local artists.
The festival aims to be a safe space for fans to enjoy the tournament, represented by the influx of young families entering the gates of the event to get a taste of the action.
In conjunction with the FIFA Fan Festival, the site in Sydney hosted a pop-up FIFA Museum with exhibitions including the ‘Calling the Shots: Faces of Women’s Football’ showcase. Sponsored by Hyundai and, more than 50,000 fans and families visited.
FIFA said that overall, the first-of-its-kind event was a success with some of the fan festival superstores running out of stock before the final match of the competition.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1714798468labto1714798468ofdlr1714798468owedi1714798468sni@o1714798468fni1714798468