England – and opponents Spain for that matter – line up in their first ever World Cup final this weekend in Australia. Lionesses fans will be cheering them on from half-way across the world, with Women’s World Cup viewing figures forecast to reach 11.1 million.
Women’s World Cup Viewing Figures
Some 11.1 million viewers are expected to tune into the 2023 World Cup final in England, while a further 2.6 million are estimated to head out to the pub to mark the occasion.
This is reflective of the growing popularity and influence of the women’s game. Particularly in this country, women’s football has been buoyed by the recent success at the Euros last summer, where the Lionesses lifted silverware on their home turf.
Elsewhere, the English Women’s Super League has overseen a staggering 729% attendance growth between 2017 and 2022.
Even if this inspiring England side are tripped at the final hurdle by Spain this weekend, gone are the days where stadiums struggling to sell out and broadcasters reluctant to pay for the rights to games.
How Much Is The Women’s World Cup Prize Money And How Does It Compare With The Men’s Tournament?
Economic Effect of Women’s World Cup
Supermarkets, pubs, broadcasters and advertisers are all bracing for a sizeable economic boost off the back of the final.
Fans are expected to flock in numbers to anywhere showing the fixture live, and a report from VoucherCodes predicts a £185m boost to the UK economy.
Similarly, those watching from home will be stocking up on supplies ahead of the match, with retail spend on food, drink and general festivities expected to hit £137.8m before Sunday, according to the Women’s World Cup 2023 spending report.
The early kick-off will put a spanner in the works for pub-goers hoping to settle their nerves with an alcoholic beverage, with licensing laws preventing most places from serving before 11am.
Michael Gove, the secretary for Levelling Up, has implored council leaders to do “everything they can to help pubs get open earlier on Sunday”.
Although the men’s run to the quarter-final in Qatar provided the UK economy with a £1.8bn boost, the Women’s World Cup fever is taking a hold and the effect of a winning campaign would see the figures above increase immeasurably.
Related Football Content
- Football Betting Tips 2023 – Latest Picks & Football Tips
- Football Predictions August 2023
- Football Accumulator Tips 2023 – Latest Acca Betting Tips
- Best Correct Score Tipsters on Telegram & Social Media 2023
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
