THE VENUE FOR THE IRELAND WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM'S first game at the World Cup next year in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 is set to be moved because of the clamour for tickets.
The game was originally set to be played at the Allianz Stadium in Moore Park in Sydney, which holds 45,500, but the game is now reportedly being moved to the bigger Accor Stadium in Sydney's Olympic Park.
The Accor Stadium holds 82,500-capacity. The ground was built for the 2000 Olympic Games.
Matildas’ World Cup opener to shift to 83,500-seat Accor Stadium https://t.co/SXTBmZ5AGK
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) January 12, 2023
Vera Pauw's team were drawn into Group B alongside the co-hosts of the tournament and they will meet on Thursday, July 20th.
Ireland will then travel to Perth to meet Canada on July 26th in the Perth Rectangular Stadium and then take on Nigeria in Lang Park in Brisbane on July 31st.
According to RTE Ireland's game could become the second largest crowd in Women's World Cup history, behind only the USA v China at the Rose Bowl in California [90,185] back 1999, if it goes ahead in the new venue.
TOP FIVE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL ATTENDANCES
91,648: Barcelona vs Wolfsburg, UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final (first leg), Camp Nou, 22 April 2022
91,553: Barcelona vs Real Madrid, UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final (second leg), Camp Nou, 30 March 2022
90,185: USA vs China, 1999 Women’s World Cup final, Rose Bowl, 10 July 1999
87,192: England vs Germany, UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final, Wembley Stadium, 31 July 2022
80,203: USA vs Japan, London 2012 Olympics women’s football final, Wembley Stadium, 9 August 2012
