Sports

UEFA Women’s Champions League final sells out

Featured Image: George Diama on Unsplash

The 2023 UEFA Women’s Champions League final featuring FC Barcelona Femení and VfL Wolfsburg Women at PSV Eindhoven's Philips Stadion is the first final to be fully sold out since the competition was rebranded during the 2009-2010 season.

Over 34,100 tickets have been issued, meaning the final is set to beat the attendance record for a women’s football match in the Netherlands. The current record was set in 2019 when the Dutch national team welcomed Australia to the 36,500-capacity Philips Stadion in front of a crowd of 30,640.

UEFA also highlighted the growing crowds for women’s football across the European competition, with the average crowds from the group stage onward reaching an all-time high of 10,800. Five of the competition’s all-time top 10 attendances have also been recorded this season.

“This is the first time we have fully sold out a Women’s Champions League final,” said Nadine Kessler, UEFA managing director of women’s football. “And that’s a few weeks in advance, which is just another sign that we have reached a new level.”

She added: “The amount of fans who wish to travel with their team has risen enormously, too. Each team has picked up an allocation of more than 4,500 for their own supporters – far more than ever before. In addition, we can expect fans from both teams to have also acquired tickets through the general sale. It’s going to be an amazing occasion for everyone, whether in the stadium or in front of the TV.”

Gijs de Jong, secretary-general of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), said: “We have wanted to host the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in the Netherlands for quite some time, so it’s great to see it happen now. And it’s even more wonderful that we will become the first sold-out final in history.

“By bringing matches like this to our country, we hope to inspire girls and women to become even more involved in football – to become a player, a coach, a board member, a referee or a fan.

“During – and in the years since – UEFA Women’s Euro 2017, which was also hosted here, we have seen what a major football event can bring to our country. With this in mind, we recently launched our bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, together with Germany and Belgium.”