Football
AAP 2y

Record crowds at Women's Euro have World Cup hosts 'excited' for 2023

Record attendance at the 2022 UEFA Women's Euro in England has organisers licking their lips in anticipation for next year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Wednesday marks one year until the 2023 tournament kicks off, as interest in women's football continues to grow across the globe.

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On Tuesday, Matildas and Chelsea star Sam Kerr became the first female player to feature on the cover of a global version of the hugely popular FIFA game alongside France superstar Kylian Mbappe.

A record aggregate of 248,075 fans have attended matches at the Euros in England, already bettering the previous tournament record of 240,055 set in the Netherlands in 2017.

That mark has been eclipsed despite the tournament only just finishing the group stage fixtures, with quarterfinals, semifinals and the final yet to be played.

The Women's Euro opened with a record crowd of 68,871 at Old Trafford for the host nation's opener against Austria while the 21,342 that watched the Netherlands play Sweden at Sheffield's Bramall Lane was a new high for a match not involving a host nation.

The Euros success has not gone unnoticed in Australia, with Women's World Cup 2023 chief operating officer Jane Hernandez confident it shows what awaits the two host countreis in 12 months.

"We're going to see the best footballers in the world performing here on centre stage in our own backyard," Hernandez told AAP. "What we're seeing overseas is exactly what we're going to see here in 2023. We're really excited. We can't wait to host."

Having reached the 12 months to go mark before the tournament kicks off, the next step for organisers will be announcing the competition's draw in Auckland in October. Other milestones such as ticket sales releases and the announcement of a tournament mascot will also be held in the coming months.

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