WELLINGTON. – Host city Wellington hopes the arrival of its Football Ferns will help stir more excitement for the Women’s World Cup this week, as early matches failed to fill the 33,132-capacity Sky Stadium.
A record crowd of 42,137 watched the New Zealand team claim its first-ever World Cup victory, a 1-0 win over Norway, at Eden Park on Thursday but the tournament has gotten off to a tepid start in the New Zealand capital.
Friday’s match between Spain and Costa Rica failed to reach 70% of stadium capacity, with 22,966 in attendance, while Sunday’s affair between Sweden and South Africa was at 55% capacity.
“I thought it’d be a bit more, like a bit more people dressed up,” said 43-year-old Sweden supporter Larna Tigerholm.
Co-host Australia drove the momentum for early ticket sales, as FIFA boasted over a million sold more than a month before the tournament had even begun.
But New Zealand residents were slower to pounce, prompting the global soccer governing body to offer 20,000 for free days ahead of kick-off.
