FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany Smashing Records

The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, which kicked off last night, is already attracting unprecedented levels of support from all over the world and reinforcing Munich 2018’s promise to deliver full stadia buzzing with passionate, knowledgeable crowds for the Winter Games.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup final is already sold out, as was last night’s opener. A European record crowd for a women’s football match of nearly 74,000 was at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, including Germany’s Head of State, President Christian Wulff, and Chancellor Angela Merkel. In total, 80% of the tickets, around 700,000, have already been sold. All 32 matches will be broadcast live on German television. Germany’s previous audience record for a women’s football match of 10.4 million viewers was smashed last night, with 14.1 million people, a 58% market share, tuning in to watch the hosts’ 2-1 victory over Canada. A recent FIFA survey found that 86% of people in Germany intend to watch some coverage of the World Cup.

Chair of the Munich 2018 Bid Committee, Katarina Witt, explained what makes Germany such an attractive host country:

‘Women’s football has a strong base here in Germany, so the organisers can guarantee passionate crowds, an incredible TV spectacle and, fingers crossed, a great performance from the home team – just what athletes, fans and sponsors want. And because we have that strong base, the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany will be an excellent platform for raising the profile of women’s football all over the world and inspiring a generation of young athletes to play and stay in sport.

‘Munich 2018’s Festival of Friendship will have exactly the same energising effect on every sport on the Winter Games programme. An Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Germany would revitalise the worldwide winter sports movement, with an unforgettable sporting spectacle, unprecedented commercial revenues and greater global exposure than ever before.’

Germany are the current FIFA Women’s World Cup holders and will be among the favourites to retain their title on home turf. This is thanks in part to a youth sport system that has seen a remarkable boom in women’s football in Germany in recent years: there are now over one million female players registered with the German Football League.

Steffi Jones, President of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 Organising Committee, commented:

‘It would be great to have the Olympic and Paralympic Games back in Germany after such a long time. Knowing Germany's passion for sports and its enthusiastic fans, one can imagine what a fantastic event Germany could offer to the athletes and the Olympic Movement.’

Bernhard Schwank, CEO of Munich 2018, underlined the importance of Germany’s rich sporting heritage to the Bavarian capital’s Winter Games bid:

‘The athlete has been at the heart of every single planning decision we have made. We’ve been able to put together a uniquely athlete-friendly concept because we have been in constant consultation with our 125 sports ambassadors, and because Germany has such enormous experience in hosting sports mega-events – we really know all the little things that make a big difference to an athlete’s experience. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the latest in a long, illustrious list of international competitions in Germany, and we’ve worked hard to incorporate the lessons we’ve learned from every single one of them.’

The impressive numbers expected at the FIFA Women’s World Cup will cement Munich 2018’s promise of a truly unique offering to the Olympic Movement. Final preparations are underway for the pivotal presentation to the Olympic family at the 123rd IOC Session in Durban on 6 July, and the mood in the Munich 2018 camp is highly optimistic.

For more information, contact:presse@muenchen2018.org

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