The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand had an economic impact exceeding one billion dollars, as revealed by Football Australia (FA). According to FA’s report, the tournament broke even with an economic impact of 1.32 billion Australian dollars in Australia alone.
More than 1.7 million tickets were sold for the World Cup, beating the previous record set in 2015. Australia’s semifinal defeat to England became the country’s most watched television broadcast. FA’s CEO James Johnson aims to secure the hosting rights for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup to continue the tournament’s momentum.
Australia is in discussions with the AFC to host the 2026 tournament, with a deal expected to be finalized by April. Overall, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was a huge success financially and in terms of viewership, establishing a solid legacy for women’s football in the region.
The Legacy 23 strategy aimed to deliver enduring benefits for the sport, and it clearly succeeded with the economic impact and record-breaking ticket sales. With plans to host the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, FA is looking to build on the success of the Women’s World Cup and further promote women’s football in the region.
