Women’s Football continues to be on the rise around the world with news that the iconic Wembley Stadium has been sold out for the historic clash between the England Women’s National Team and their Brazilian counterparts on Thursday, April 6 this year.
In what will be a first for the women’s game, the two nations will contest for a brand new trophy in the 2023 Women’s Finalissima – a clash between the European Champions (England) and Copa America victors (Brazil).
The fixture is part of a cooperation agreement between UEFA and CONMEBOL, and includes women’s football, futsal, youth categories, exchange of referees and technical training schemes.
The Men’s Finalissima took place in June last year, where 2020 European Champions Italy lost 3-0 to Copa America winners Argentina.
With this being the FIFA Women’s World Cup year, interest keeps growing in women’s football and it is no surprise that the tickets were sold out three months in advance.
But fans who still harbour intentions of going to watch the match live will have to dig deeper into their pockets after the English FA announced that only hospitality tickets remain for the April fixture. The hospitality packages are available via clubwembley.com/events.
The Lionesses were crowned European Champions after defeating Germany 2-1 in a pulsating final, played at the Home of English Football in July last year.
The hosts had taken the lead only for the Germans to equalise, but Sarina Wiegman’s side restored their advantage and prevailed with a late strike in extra time to win their first ever European title in front of a record capacity crowd of 87,192 fans.
Brazil on the other hand became South American champions, also in July 2022, following a narrow 1-0 victory over a stubborn Colombia, as they lifted their eighth Copa America title in nine editions of the tournament.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two countries at senior women’s international level.
In the first encounter, England emerged 1-0 victors in a friendly match played at Meadow Lane, Nottingham on 6 October 2018.
There were two other fixtures the following year, with England continuing their domination over the South Americans, winning 2-1 in the SheBelieves Cup in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA (27 February 2019), while Brazil bounced back to triumph with the same score line on 5 October in a friendly clash in Middlesbrough.
England is not new to selling out tickets for their matches.
Their friendly international against reigning World Champions, the USA, at Wembley in October last year, attracted a crowd of 76,893 – with the host nation winning 2-1.
But the current record attendance outside competition stands at 77,768 when the Lionesses lost 2-1 to Germany at Wembley in November of 2019.
By Matlhomola Morake
