One week out from the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the gap in population size between the two countries could be responsible for slow ticket sales.
Despite being on pace to set a Women’s World Cup attendance record, a FIFA sponsor is shelling out 20,000 free tickets to matches in New Zealand — where tickets have been less popular. Of the 1.25 million tickets sold so far, only 320,000 are for matches in New Zealand.
Australia’s population of 25 million is five times New Zealand’s five million — yet Australia is hosting just six more of the tournament’s 64 matches (35 in Australia, 29 in New Zealand). In terms of the stadium capacities of the 10 World Cup venues, the six Australian stadiums account for 58% of the 2.45 million tickets potentially available.
Of course, fans travel from across the globe for the World Cup — which could alleviate the population difference — but there have been fewer hotel bookings in New Zealand than originally expected. This World Cup is more complicated than others, as many fans need to acquire two separate travel visas in order to see matches in both countries.
Settling Up
FIFA, which compensates clubs whose players compete at World Cups, will pay out $209 million to 440 clubs from 51 different countries for participating in last year’s men’s edition in Qatar.
The daily amount of $10,950 for each of the 837 players is an increase from the $8,530 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
