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USWNT Attendance Dips Slightly in 2024

The United States Women’s National Team averaged 19,270 fans per game over the course of 15 home games in 2024. That is a very small drop of 1% from 2023. Even with the small decline, it was still the USWNT’s fourth best attendance in the last 13 years. Attendance may have dipped ever so slightly, but there were still some
By Lawrence Dockery - December 12, 2024, 9:37 am - 0 comments
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The United States Women’s National Team averaged 19,270 fans per game over the course of 15 home games in 2024. That is a very small drop of 1% from 2023. Even with the small decline, it was still the USWNT’s fourth best attendance in the last 13 years.

Attendance may have dipped ever so slightly, but there were still some very bright spots this year. Here is the attendance for every game the USWNT played at home in 2024.

DateCompetitionMatch-UpStadiumCityAttendance
February 20W Gold CupUSA vs. Dominican RepublicDignity Health Sports ParkCarson, CA3,242
February 23W Gold CupUSA vs. ArgentinaDignity Health Sports ParkCarson, CA8,315
February 26W Gold CupUSA vs. MexicoDignity Health Sports ParkCarson, CA11,612
March 3W Gold CupUSA vs. ColombiaBMO StadiumLos Angeles, CA16,746
March 6W Gold CupUSA vs. CanadaSnapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CA15,245
March 10W Gold CupUSA vs. BrazilSnapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CA31,528
April 6She Believes CupUSA vs. JapanMercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta, GA50,644
April 9She Believes CupUSA vs. CanadaLower.com FieldColumbus, OH19,049
June 1International FriendlyUSA vs. South KoreaDick’s Sporting Goods ParkCommerce City, CO19,010
June 4International FriendlyUSA vs. South KoreaAllianz FieldSt. Paul, MN19,169
July 13International FriendlyUSA vs. MexicoRed Bull ArenaHarrison, NJ26,376
July 16International FriendlyUSA vs. Costa RicaAudi FieldWashington DC18,972
October 24International FriendlyUSA vs. IcelandQ2 StadiumAustin, TX18,580
October 27International FriendlyUSA vs. IcelandGeodis ParkNashville, TN17,018
October 30International FriendlyUSA vs. ArgentinaLynn Family StadiumLouisville, KY13,543

The year may have started out rough with a few crowds below 10,000 people but that was to be expected. It is not uncommon, when a team plays three group stage games in the same stadium, for crowds to be smaller as the fans in that area have more flexibility in choosing when they can go to see a game.

The highlight this year was the crowd of over 50,000 people at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game against Japan was the first time the USWNT had hit 50,000 people for a game since the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final against China drew 90,185 at the Rose Bowl.

But Atlanta wasn’t the only bright spot in 2024. A number of other venues that hosted the USWNT were at or near capacity, including Red Bull Arena outside New York and Lower.com Field in Columbus. It’s also worth noting that, like the USMNT this year, the USWNT also played a game at the home of a USL Championship team. The USWNT’s foray into a smaller soccer stadium was just as successful as the USMNT’s, with the crowd of 13,543 at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville announced as the second largest crowd in stadium history.

It’s safe to say, based on the table below, the USWNT’s popularity is here to stay.

YearAverage AttendanceNumber of Home Games% Change
201216,25113N/A
201316,4799+1%
201410,79115-35%
201527,76613+157%
201615,97321-74%
201718,15013+12%
201814,06418-23%
201925,12215+79%
202014,5598-42%
202112,70314-13%
202214,96711+18%
202319,46112+30%
202419,27015-1%

Even with the attendance drop, be it ever so slight, 2024 was a fantastic year for the USWNT. Following the disaster that was their brief stay at the Women’s World Cup in 2023 (the worst performance at a major tournament is USWNT history) the team desperately needed some positive energy. They got it with the hire of Emma Hayes. And while they started the year with an interim manager as they waited for Hayes to finish out the European club season, it was full steam ahead once she arrived.

The USWNT was immediately successful under Hayes, as they went to the Paris Olympics and won their first gold medal since the 2012 Games in London. Since their return from Paris, they have not lost a game. In fact, since taking over in June, Emma Hayes has posted a record of 13-0-2 (W-L-D).

The first five games of 2025 are already on the calendar for the USWNT. They begin in February with the annual She Believes Cup (which will again feature three games, rather than just two as it did this year). They start on the 20th against Colombia at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston before moving on to face Australia at State Farm Stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale on the 23rd. They wrap up the tournament three days later on the 26th against Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. There are also two friendlies against Brazil set for April: at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on the 5th and then at PayPal Park in San Jose on the 8th.

The success and popularity of the USWNT continue to push the popularity and growth of the beautiful game here in the United States. With so much high level soccer being played in the United States between 2023 and 2028, the sky could be the limit for the growth of the sport in this country, and the USWNT winning trophies again can only further that growth. The Gold Cup was here in 2023, Copa America was here in 2024, the Gold Cup and the Club World Cup are here in 2025, the World Cup is here in 2026, the Gold Cup figures to be here in 2027, and Olympic soccer is here in 2028. If soccer can’t “make it” now, will it ever?

Photo Credit: USA Today

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