The attention of world football turns to Australia and New Zealand this summer for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Over the last four years, the audiences for women’s football have increased considerably, as have the salaries of the highest-paid players in the world.
While some of the kick-off times are challenging for European fans, the live betting pages are still bound to busy from the first match through to the final.
Crowds are expected to be strong down under after an average attendance of almost 22,000 in France four years ago. There will be 10 different stadia used during the 2023 Women’s World Cup – let’s take a look at them.
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Opened for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Stadium Australia hosts Australia’s opening match in the group stage and has the honour of being the venue for the final.
Its capacity was 115,000 for the Olympics over two decades ago, but that is down to a measly 83,500 for this World Cup.
It is by far the largest stadium in action for the World Cup. Naturally, FIFA are making good use of it, with a semi-final and quarter-final being held there before the final on 20th August.
The stadium is used for a range of sports, including AFL, cricket, rugby league, rugby union and even some motorsports.
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
The fourth-largest stadium at this World Cup, Sydney Football Stadium is inevitably overshadowed by Stadium Australia.
Sydney Football Stadium is hosting just one knockout match at the tournament, though that is likely to be a high-profile fixture with the USA set to be involved if they win their group.
Opened in August 2022, the stadium currently has several tenants in the NSW Waratahs, Sydney FC, Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Lang Park, Brisbane
Lang Park hosts England’s opening match of the World Cup as Sarina Wiegman and her team look to backup their Euros triumph.
The 52,263-capacity arena will also have the third-place playoff and one of the quarter-finals.
Ground was broken on Lang Park in 1911, with the stadium completed three years later. Current tenants include football, rugby league and rugby union teams.
It was used for seven matches during the 2015 Asian Cup, including Australia’s 2-0 quarter-final victory over China.
Eden Park, Auckland
Football odds favourites to defend their title, the USA begin their World Cup campaign at Eden Park against Vietnam.
Opened in 1900, it is New Zealand’s national stadium, and is primarily used for rugby union and cricket. It has a capacity of 48,276 for this summer’s World Cup.
Eden Park only hosted its first professional football match in 2011. It has been used for cricket World Cups in the past, but it is a relative newbie as a football venue. It will, however, host matches in each of the knockout rounds.
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
A multi-purpose stadium, Wellington Regional Stadium is known as Sky Stadium for sponsorship reasons.
Most of the time, it is used for sport, with international rugby and cricket matches frequently held at the ground known as ‘The Cake Tin’.
Large concerts also take place at Sky Stadium, which boasts a 39,000 capacity for this World Cup.
Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
A sponsorship deal means Melbourne Rectangular Stadium is known as AAMI Stadium.
The original name is more helpful, however, as this was Melbourne’s first purpose-built rectangular stadium when it was completed in 2010. The city’s other major sporting venues are oval-shaped, making them perfect for cricket and Aussie rules.
AAMI Stadium is the home of football in Melbourne – this is where Western United, Melbourne City FC and Melbourne Victory play their home matches.
The stadium has a capacity of 30,052 for the World Cup. It had three matches with attendances over 25,000 during the 2015 Asian Cup.
Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
Built back in 1910, Perth Rectangular Stadium (or HBF Park) has been renovated several times over the years, including in 2023 to prepare for this summer’s World Cup.
Western Force and Perth Glory currently call this 22,225-capacity stadium home.
HBF Park has hosted only three international football matches. Five more will be added to that tally during the World Cup, with two matches from Group D and one from B, F and H.
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
The smallest of the 10 World Cup stadia with a capacity of only 18,435, Hindmarsh Stadium is the home ground of Adelaide United.
Work has been done to increase its capacity from 16,000 in time for the World Cup, when it will have four group stage matches and a round of 16 clash.
England will feature at the Hindmarsh Stadium when they face China. Seven fixtures were held at this ground during the Olympics in 2000 – Italy’s 1-1 draw with Nigeria had the highest attendance, which remains the record at the ground.
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Forsyth Barr Stadium has tournament experience, having hosted four matches during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
A fully-enclosed ground with a clear roof, it has long been referred to as the ‘Glasshouse’, and has a 28,744 capacity for this summer’s World Cup.
It is currently the home stadium of the Highlanders, Otago and Southern United. The dimensions mean it is not useable for cricket, but it has held several massive concerts over the years.
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
The home of the Chiefs and Waikato rugby union teams along with occasionally hosting All Blacks matches, Waikato Stadium is primarily a rugby venue.
It will not host any knockout fixtures at the World Cup. There will be five group matches at the stadium, however, and it hosted several important inter-confederation playoff matches.
The ground boasts a capacity of 25,111, making it one of the smaller stadia at this summer’s tournament.
