March 29 – England is fast warming up for this summer’s women Euro. With UEFA releasing reporting record ticket sales already and releasing a further 350,00 tickets, the English domestic game registered a new milestone at the weekend.
For the first time Manchester United’s women’s team played a Women’s Super League fixture at Old Trafford in front of fans. They had played at Old Trafford last season but there were no fans due to covid restrictions.
Old Trafford will host the opening game of the 2022 Euro with expectations of a 74,000 capacity crowd for the match that will see England open their campaign.
In comparison, Old Trafford hosted the US vs Canada semi-final at the 2012 Olympics, in front of 26,630 fans. That match went to extra time and saw Alex Morgan score the winner as the US progressed towards Olympic gold.
For the WSL match between United and Everton, 20,241 were present. Man Utd won 3-1.
Tickets were priced low at £3 and £6, with the aim of getting a crowd that will hopefully convert to coming to watch the team at their regular venue of Leigh Sports Village. Average attendance there has been just under 2,000 this season.
While Old Trafford was the focus of the WSL at the weekend, women’s football remained centrestage at the beginning of the week with Euro 2020 ticket release and the takeover of London’s Carnaby St for the promotion.
Rio Ferdinand, Fara Williams (England’s most capped player), Millie Bright (England captain), Kenza Dali (France) and Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), were in Carnaby Street supporting the launch and the unveiing of the giant women’s table football figures suspended 5m above the street.
The display will be live from 28 March to 10 April. A smaller traditional-sized Women’s EURO table football game is also on display and free to play.
Rio Ferdinand, ambassador of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 said: “We’ve already seen ticket records broken and we are looking to break even more this summer. You just have to get down to a game and take in the atmosphere. We’ve seen in the past how tournaments bring families and nations together, so we’re here to push and amplify the women’s game.”
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