Brisbane building for women’s soccer World Cup

We’ve had a taste of World Cup fever, and Brisbane is already kicking goals for next year’s women’s tournament in its own back yard.

Jeremy Pierce

@GoldCoastBureau

2 min read

December 11, 2022 - 12:00AM

The Sunday Mail (Qld)

(l-r) Hugo Egan, Magnolia Egan and George Egan can’t wait for next year’s women’s World Cup soccer matches in Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

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The women’s FIFA World Cup is still more than six months away, but Brisbane is already kicking goals.

The River City will host eight World Cup matches across July and August next year in the tournament to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with early data forecasting a $30 million boom for the Brisbane economy.

With soccer riding a new wave of popularity following the Socceroos’ heroic march to the playoff phase of the men’s World Cup in Qatar, early accommodation bookings show the women’s tournament will bring more than 40,000 visitors to Queensland across 200,000 overnight stays.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the city would be buzzing when the sporting showpiece comes to Queensland next year.

“The crowds in King George Square last Sunday are just a taste of what’s to come when the Women’s World Cup arrives in Brisbane next year,” he said.

“Football fever will transform the city, with thousands of fans from across the world filling local hotels, restaurants and bars.

“The atmosphere in the Cauldron (Suncorp Stadium) and around Caxton Street is second-to-none and we can’t wait to cheer on the Matildas while the eyes of the world are on Brisbane.”

Queensland Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the success of the men’s Socceroos, and the continued growth of the sport among girls and women, were key factors driving an extraordinary surge in ticket sales for next year’s showpiece.

“Women’s World Cup 2023 tickets have been selling like hot cakes since the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign captured the awe and the imagination of Australians around the world,” he said.

“With the Matildas confirmed for a group stage match in Brisbane, the first month of ticket sales for the Women’s World Cup 2023 has already eclipsed the first four months of sales for France 2019.”

FIFA Women’s World Cup COO (Australia) Jane Fernandez said early interest in next year’s tournament was extremely encouraging.

“The high demand for Matildas and Football Ferns (the New Zealand national women’s team) matches, among others, shows the momentum behind women’s football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023,” she said.

“The men’s and women’s World Cups are the biggest stand-alone sporting events in the world, and our expectation is that the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be a record-breaking event.”