2023 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
Women’s World Cup 2023: what stadium will the final be played in? Capacity, location, etc
The lowdown on the venue for the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which is to be held in Sydney in August.
Sydney’s Stadium Australia, known for sponsorship purposes as Accor Stadium, is to host the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup on 20 August.
Originally built for the 2000 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, at a cost of A$690 million (around US$500 million), the stadium opened in March 1999.
Biggest stadium at Women’s World Cup
While its initial capacity was just over 110,000, Stadium Australia was reconfigured after the Games to focus on hosting sports such as soccer, rugby and Australian rules football. This brought its size down to 83,500 seats, per the venue’s official website, and FIFA actually lists the ground’s Women’s World Cup capacity as being a little lower still, at just under 76,000; nevertheless, it remains the largest arena at the tournament by quite a distance.
The second-biggest stadium at the World Cup is Brisbane Stadium, which holds around 50,000, according to world soccer’s governing body.
Australia opener switched to stadium
Stadium Australia was only expected to host knockout-stage games at the World Cup. In January, however, co-hosts Australia’s opening group-stage game, against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday July 20, was moved to the venue from the new, smaller Sydney Football Stadium, due to heavy demand for tickets.
As well as the final, Stadium Australia is to stage a last-16 game, a quarter-final and a semi-final.
Were Australia to make the final, the Matildas would play three out of four knockout-stage games at Stadium Australia, regardless of whether they finished first or second in Group B.
See also:
Over 100,000 watched men’s Olympics final
The stadium’s record attendance for a soccer match came in the men’s final at the 2000 Olympics, when 104,240 spectators watched Cameroon beat Spain on penalties. The venue has also hosted the final of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which saw hosts Australia defeat Japan to win their first and only continental title.
Other major sporting events on Stadium Australia’s resumé is the 2003 Rugby World Cup final; two British & Irish Lions tests against Australia; and several Australian National Rugby League grand finals.