Women’s Euro 2022: Record crowds set to descend upon England

The 2022 Women’s European Championship kicks off Wednesday, with England set to host the tournament for the first time since 2005.

With more than 500,000 tickets already sold – including a sellout in England’s opener Wednesday against Austria at Old Trafford and the Wembley final – the tournament is set to shatter the attendance record of 240,000 set in the Netherlands four years ago.

UEFA said Friday that roughly 20 percent of ticket purchases came from outside England. The tournament is expected to draw attendees from at least 99 countries.

The Euros are set to continue what already has been a big year for women’s soccer in Europe. Barcelona set a world record in attendance for a women’s game as 91,648 attended the first leg of the team’s Champions League semifinal at Camp Nou. The record previously was set in 1999 in the final of the Women’s World Cup.

In France, 43,254 turned out to watch Paris Saint-Germain play in the Champions League semifinal against Lyon, setting a record. Additionally, England’s club attendance record was broken in the FA Cup final at Wembley as 49,094 attended the match between Chelsea and Manchester City.

England enters the tournament as one of the favorites, as the team not only has home-field advantage on its side but also an unbeaten record under head coach Sarina Wiegman, who was appointed in September 2021.

After reaching the semifinals in each of the last three tournaments, this could be the year England finally breaks through to the final.

Spain was among the favorites, but Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas tore her ACL in a Tuesday training session. The loss of Putellas in addition to the absence of top goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso – who suffered knee ligament damage earlier this month and was ruled out of the tournament – could spell trouble for Spain.

The return of Ada Hegerberg to the Norwegian national team has boosted that squad heading into the tournament, while Vivianne Miedema will be one to watch for the Dutch national team.

Group A: England, Austria Norway, Northern Ireland
Group B: Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland
Group C: Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland
Group D: France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland

Group Stage:

• Wednesday, July 6 
  • England vs. Austria @ 3 p.m., ESPNU/ESPN2
• Thursday, July 7
  • Norway vs. Northern Ireland @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Friday, July 8
  • Spain vs. Finland @ 12 p.m., ESPN+
  • Germany vs. Denmark @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Saturday, July 9
  • Portugal vs. Switzerland @ 12 p.m., ESPN+
  • Netherlands vs. Sweden @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Sunday, July 10 
  • Belgium vs. Iceland @ 12 p.m., ESPN2
  • France vs. Italy @ 3 p.m., ESPN+

• Monday, July 11
  • Austria vs. Northern Ireland @ 12 p.m., ESPN2
  • England vs. Norway @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Tuesday, July 12
  • Denmark vs. Finland @ 12 p.m., ESPN2
  • Germany vs. Spain @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Wednesday, July 13
  • Sweden vs. Switzerland @ 12 p.m., ESPN2
  • Netherlands vs. Portugal @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Thursday, July 14
  • Italy vs. Iceland @ 12 p.m., ESPN2
  • France vs. Belgium @ 3 p.m., ESPN+

• Friday, July 15
  • Northern Ireland vs. England @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
  • Austria vs. Norway @ 3 p.m., ESPN+
• Saturday, July 16
  • Finland vs. Germany @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
  • Denmark vs. Spain @ 3 p.m., ESPN+
• Sunday, July 17
  • Switzerland vs. Netherlands @ 12 p.m., ESPN
  • Sweden vs. Portugal @ 12 p.m., ESPN+
• Monday, July 18
  • Iceland vs. France @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
  • Italy vs. Belgium @ 3 p.m., ESPN+

Quarterfinals:

• Wednesday, July 20: QF #1 @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Thursday, July 21: QF #2 @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Friday, July 22: QF #3 @ 3 p.m., ESPN2
• Saturday, July 23: QF #4 @ 3 p.m., ESPN2

Semifinals:

• Tuesday, July 26: SF #1 @ 3 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN+
• Wednesday, July 27: SF #2 @ 3 p.m., ESPN2

Final:

• Sunday, July 31 @ 12 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+

*All times listed in ET.