From the Olympics to the Champions League, these are some of the biggest women's football attendances ever
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As the popularity of women's football has grown, so have the crowds – and we've seen a number of record-breaking attendances over recent years.
Suppression of women's football – including the sport being banned in England for 50 years – means that getting crowds out hasn't always been easy, and the archival of achievements isn't always as easy to come across. But FourFourTwo went digging to find what we believe are the largest attendances ever.
The Women's Champions League, the World Cup and the Euros have all been integral to growing interest in the women's game, and are responsible for a number of the biggest crowds on this list.
But geography also plays a role: the top two attendance are at the same ground, while another seven all come from London's Wembley Stadium.
Here are 14 of the biggest women's football attendances of all time.
Biggest women's football attendances: 1. Barcelona vs Wolfsburg, April 22 2022 – 91,648 (Camp Nou)
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Just under 100 people set the record for the biggest women's football attendance ever, when Barcelona played Wolfsburg in the Champions League at the Camp Nou in April 2022.
The previous record – set at the same ground in the same competition – had stood for just three weeks before this incredible turnout.
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And it was more happy news for the home side, as Barcelona brushed Wolfsburg aside 5-1 in this semi-final first leg to set them on the path for the final.
2. Barcelona vs Real Madrid, March 30 2022 – 91,553 (Camp Nou)
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El Clasico set a new record for women's attendances in the quarter-final second leg of the 2021/22 Women's Champions League, with over 91,000 fans heading out to the Camp Nou on a Wednesday evening to see Barça run out winners over their rivals Real Madrid.
Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Barcelona progressed to the semis with a 5-2 victory on their home turf.
3. United States vs China, July 10 1999 – 90,185 (Rose Bowl)
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While the first (official) 90,000+ crowd for a women's football game at the Rose Bowl in Padadena had to endure a 0-0 draw in the 1999 Women's World Cup Final, they did at least get to witness one of the most iconic and enduring images of the sport: Brandi Chastain's celebration after converting the winning spot-kick in the 5-4 penalty shootout.
4. England vs Germany, July 31 2022 – 87,192 (Wembley Stadium)
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The Lionesses' home Euro 2022 triumph provided the highest-ever attendance England has seen for a women's football game.
Almost 90,000 people were at Wembley to witness Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly write themselves into English football history as the scorers in a 2-1 extra time win in the final over Germany.
It wouldn't be the only entry Wembley gets on this list though...
5. England vs Brazil, April 6 2023 – 83,132 (Wembley Stadium)
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The inaugural Women's Finalissima, featuring the winners of the 2022 editions of the Women's European Championships and Copa America Femenina England and Brazil, saw a bumper crowd at Wembley for a nation still basking in the Lionesses' victory the year before.
As in that final the year before, Ella Toone opened the scoresheet before a 93rd-minute Andressa equaliser took the game to extra time and the dreaded penalties.
While Toone was the online Lioness to miss her chance from the spot, two saves from goalkeeper Mary Earps allowed Chloe Kelly to put away the deciding spot-kick for another famous win.
6. United States vs Japan, August 9 2012 – 80,203 (Wembley Stadium)
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The London 2012 Olympics was one of the most exciting women's football tournaments ever, so it is fitting that Wembley was close to packed out to see its culmination.
Having dramatically knocked out Canada in the last minute of extra time in Old Trafford, the USA dispatched Japan 2-1 to claim their fourth Olympic Gold medal.
7. England vs Germany, November 9 2019 – 77,768 (Wembley Stadium)
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The result might not have suited most of the 77,768 fans who made their way to Wembley for an England vs Germany friendly on a rainy night in November, but their attendance was a then-record for the England Women's team.
An Ellen White goal was not enough to stop England from falling to a 2-1 loss – though bigger and better things awaited for this England side at the same venue.
8. Chelsea vs Manchester United, May 14 2023 – 77,390 (Wembley Stadium)
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The 2023 Women's FA Cup final brought with it the biggest-ever attendance for a club game in a domestic competition (the 2022 Clasico coming in the Champions League).
With interest in women's football in England on the rise after the Euro 2022 victory, this capped off a 2022/23 season that had seen regular bumpers crowds in the WSL.
Sam Kerr scored the only goal of the game to secure the trophy for Chelsea.
9. Great Britain vs Brazil, July 31 2012 – 70,584 (Wembley Stadium)
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Steph Houghton guided Hope Powell's side to a 1-0 victory over Brazil in front of a huge crowd at Wembley for the 2012 Olympics. This victory ensured it was three wins out of three in the group stage for Team GB, with no goals conceded.
Unfortunately the good times would not last: Great Britain were knocked out by Canada in the very next stage.
10. England vs Austria, July 6 2022 – 68,871 (Old Trafford)
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Euro 2022 kicked off not at Wembley, but in Manchester, and was indicative of how support for the Lionesses had grown across the country.
An early Beth Mead goal ensured England came away with a 1-0 victory in this nervy affair. It was hardly indicative of the rest of the group stage, with Sarina Wiegman's side notching up another 13 goals from the next two games alone.
11. France vs Japan, August 6 2012 – 61,482 (Wembley Stadium)
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Over 61,000 turned out for the semi-final of the London Olympics – the biggest attendance for a game since the '99 World Cup final.
Japan ran out 2-1 winners to land their place in the final and confirm their place as the first medallists of the women's football tournament at the Games.
12. Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona, March 17 2019 – 60,739 (Wanda Metropolitano)
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The 60,000 people who attended the Wanda Metropolitano in 2019 set a world record at the time.
This match was the biggest attendance for a club women's football match, breaking a record set 99 years previously by the Dick Kerr Ladies and St Helen's Ladies at Goodison Park. Barcelona ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Asisat Oshoala and Toni Duggan.
13. Arsenal vs Wolfsburg, May 2 2023 – 60,063 (Emirates Stadium)
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Despite a sell-out at the Emirates Stadium for this Champions League semi-final second-leg, Arsenal fell just short in a thrilling match.
A tight 1-1 draw in Germany in the first-leg had given the Gunners a golden opportunity to reach the final.
A Jen Beattie equaliser in the 75th minute had made the game finely poised at 2-2 going into extra time, before Pauline Bremmer popped up in the 119th-minute to make it 3-2 and dash Arsenal hopes.
14. United States vs Netherlands, July 7 2019 – 57,900 (Parc Olympique Lyonnais)
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While there was some disappointment about ticket sales at the 2019 Women's World Cup in France, the final still saw the one of biggest attendances in women's football history.
European Champions Netherlands were looking to knock the USA off their perch but a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle saw the USA win their second consecutive World Cup.
Jessy Parker Humphreys is a freelance women's football writer. A Chelsea fan, Jessy has been following the women's game since being taken to the 2003/04 FA Cup final at Loftus Road and seeing Arsenal thrash Jessy's local side Charlton. Fortunately, Arsenal don't win quite as much as they used to – although Jessy hopes Charlton will also be back at the top of the women's game one day.
