Football: Women’s European Championship ticket sales could beat record for men

The attendance at the Women’s European Championship final at Wembley on August 1 could surpass the record for any Euros match for men or women.

Tickets for the tournament decider at the famous stadium, which has a capacity of 90,000, sold out within an hour of going on sale.

The highest attendance for any Euros match – men or women – is 79,115 for the 1964 final at Madrid’s Bernabeu.

Last year, when England played Italy in the men’s final at Wembley Stadium, 67,173 fans attended after Covid-19 restrictions limited capacity. Italy won 3-2 on penalties after the score was locked 1-1 at fulltime.

The highest attendance for any Euros match – men or women – is 79,115 for the 1964 final at Madrid’s Bernabeu.

Last year, when England played Italy in the men’s final at Wembley Stadium, 67,173 fans attended after Covid-19 restrictions limited capacity. Italy won 3-2 on penalties after the score was locked 1-1 at fulltime.

Prior to tickets for the Women’s European Championship going on general sale this week, more than half of the 700,000 tickets available across the tournament had already been sold in pre-sales.

The tournament is already on course to surpass the 240,045 who watched the 2017 tournament in the Netherlands.

Sixteen nations will take part in the tournament across 10 different venues in England, with the opening match on July 7.

England and Chelsea defender Jess Carter told BBC Sport that it was “absolutely massive knowing there will be that much support – although not all of it will be for us’’.

“It shows the growth of the women’s game that we are able to sell-out stadiums like that well in advance, and it shows the way the game is going,” Carter said.

“Hopefully the tournament is massive, a great stage for women’s football and it continues to go that way.”

The Lionesses’ matches against Norway at Brighton’s Amex stadium and Northern Ireland at St Mary’s have also sold out.