How many people actually watch the Women’s EURO?

Even the rescheduled World Championships didn’t deprive us of an international tournament in the summer. But how many people actually watch the women’s EURO?

Preliminary expectations were significant. Bold predictions flew through the media, estimating attendances and viewership for the women’s football championship in England.

The opening match showed that, in England at least, the interest was significant. On average, 2.7 million Britons watched the tournament opener between England and Austria. At peak time, that figure reached 3.7 million.

If we add in the 750,000 fans from streaming services, the official ones, we move over 4 million.

Moreover, viewers are not just in front of screens. At Old Trafford, where England and Austria played, just under 69,000 spectators turned up. This is easily the highest attendance for a women’s EURO match.

Admittedly, the following Albion-Norway clash in Brighton was attended by ‘just’ under 30,000 spectators (‘up to’ the fourth highest EURO attendance ever). On the other hand, the draw is not only the home team’s clashes. Over 21,000 spectators turned up to watch the clash between the Netherlands and Sweden.

The popularity and viewership of women’s football is growing, and this year’s EURO is an excellent example of this. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is no longer objectively possible to say that ‘nobody cares’.

Sources: UEFA, BBC