Women’s FA Cup Final Could Smash Attendance Record

The women’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United on May 14 could easily draw more fans to Wembley Stadium than any domestic women’s soccer match in history.

More than 50,000 tickets had been sold by March 28, according to Forbes — and that’s only the “neutral” tickets. Both clubs are also selling 8,000 fan-specific tickets. 

The game is on pace to sell 66,000 tickets, which would breeze past the previous record of 60,739 for a 2009 match between FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid. Wembley — which can host 90,000 fans — could even be sold out for the first time.

The game would also shatter the women’s Super League record of 47,367 fans, set last year when Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at Emirates Stadium.

Skyrocketing Popularity

The FA Cup Final could add to the list of women’s soccer matches that have set attendance records over the past year.

Last April, Barcelona set a world record for attendance at any women’s soccer match when more than 91,000 fans showed up to watch the club face VfL Wolfsburg. 

Then, the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Final set an attendance record with 87,192 fans watching England beat Germany — more than any Euro final in men’s or women’s soccer at the time.