The current Women's World Cup will be the best attended ever and is on course to smash the per-match record set in Canada in 2015, Football Australia&nbsp;chief&nbsp;executive James Johnson said on Friday. He also reiterated that a successful Women's World Cup could be a springboard to Australia hosting the men's event. "There have been more people attending matches than any Women's World Cup," Johnson told a press briefing to mark the end of the group stage in Australia and co-host New Zealand.

So far more than 1.2 million fans have passed through the turnstiles and organisers now expect that figure to rise to 1.9 million by the time the tournament ends on Aug. 20. "Our (target) was to get to 1.5 million and we'll go past that," he said, adding that he had also "been hearing stories from all over the world" of record broadcast numbers.

This year's expanded field of 32 teams means 64 games rather than the 52 played in Canada. However, average attendances in 2015 were around 26,000, compared with more than 30,000 so far this time. And, as evidenced by the 40,000 fans who packed Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday for France's entertaining 6-3 group game win over Panama, the tournament seems to be capturing the imagination of neutrals in host countries where soccer has not traditionally enjoyed top billing. And merchandise is selling fast.

Matildas jerseys, Johnson said, are outselling the Socceroos jersey from the&nbsp;FIFA&nbsp;men's World Cup last year in Qatar two to one. Sam Kerr, the Chelsea striker who sat out Australia's first-round games with a calf injury, is the top-selling jersey. "We're investing just as much money in the Matildas programme as we are the Socceroos programme. That's something that's really important for us," he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/womens-world-cup-australia-can-beat-anyone-says-caitlin-foord-after-matildas-enter-quarterfinals-623304">Women's World Cup: Australia 'can beat anyone', says Caitlin Foord after Matildas enter quarterfinals</a>

Research has shown the Matildas trail only Australia's men's cricket and soccer teams in national popularity, and have passed both the country's men's rugby union and rugby league squads. "So the (Matildas) brand is strong, it's powerful," Johnson said. "The brand is in every city and town across the country."

FIFA&nbsp;president Gianni Infantino, who attended Australia's 4-0 rout of Olympic champions Canada in Melbourne, labelled the tournament the "best ever" World Cup during a visit to Canberra this week. Johnson said a successful tournament would encourage Australia to consider bidding for the Club World Cup in 2029 "and then there's the men's World Cup in 2034 that we're also going to look at."

After a successful women's tournament in 2015, Canada will be co-hosts with the United States and Mexico for the 2026 men's World Cup. Similarly, "Australia will no doubt host a men's World Cup one day. And what better way to do that than on the back of the best-ever Women's World Cup," he added.

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The current Women's World Cup will be the best attended ever and is on course to smash the per-match record set in Canada in 2015, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said on Friday.

The current Women's World Cup will be the best attended ever and is on course to smash the per-match record set in Canada in 2015, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said on Friday. He also reiterated that a successful Women's World Cup could be a springboard to Australia hosting the men's event. "There have been more people attending matches than any Women's World Cup," Johnson told a press briefing to mark the end of the group stage in Australia and co-host New Zealand. So far more than 1.2 million fans have passed through the turnstiles and organisers now expect that figure to rise to 1.9 million by the time the tournament ends on Aug. 20. "Our (target) was to get to 1.5 million and we'll go past that," he said, adding that he had also "been hearing stories from all over the world" of record broadcast numbers. This year's expanded field of 32 teams means 64 games rather than the 52 played in Canada. However, average attendances in 2015 were around 26,000, compared with more than 30,000 so far this time. And, as evidenced by the 40,000 fans who packed Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday for France's entertaining 6-3 group game win over Panama, the tournament seems to be capturing the imagination of neutrals in host countries where soccer has not traditionally enjoyed top billing. And merchandise is selling fast. Matildas jerseys, Johnson said, are outselling the Socceroos jersey from the FIFA men's World Cup last year in Qatar two to one. Sam Kerr, the Chelsea striker who sat out Australia's first-round games with a calf injury, is the top-selling jersey. "We're investing just as much money in the Matildas programme as we are the Socceroos programme. That's something that's really important for us," he said. Also read: Women's World Cup: Australia 'can beat anyone', says Caitlin Foord after Matildas enter quarterfinals Research has shown the Matildas trail only Australia's men's cricket and soccer teams in national popularity, and have passed both the country's men's rugby union and rugby league squads. "So the (Matildas) brand is strong, it's powerful," Johnson said. "The brand is in every city and town across the country." FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who attended Australia's 4-0 rout of Olympic champions Canada in Melbourne, labelled the tournament the "best ever" World Cup during a visit to Canberra this week. Johnson said a successful tournament would encourage Australia to consider bidding for the Club World Cup in 2029 "and then there's the men's World Cup in 2034 that we're also going to look at." After a successful women's tournament in 2015, Canada will be co-hosts with the United States and Mexico for the 2026 men's World Cup. Similarly, "Australia will no doubt host a men's World Cup one day. And what better way to do that than on the back of the best-ever Women's World Cup," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

FIFA Women's World Cup on pace to smash attendance records, says FA's chief executive James Johnson

Costa Rica bounced back on Sunday to win a shocking 1-0 match in Group E against Japan at the FIFA World Cup 2022. With this win, they severely damaged the Samurais’ chances of making it to the World Cup's round of 16. Costa Rica's Keysher Fuller stunned the Japanese in the game’s 81st minute by&nbsp;converting his team's first shot on target into a goal.&nbsp;

Japan, who had hoped to reach the round of 16 following&nbsp;their historic victory over Germany in the opener, suffered an untimely&nbsp;thrashing at the hands of Costa Rica, thus putting their&nbsp;ambitions of reaching the knockout stages in limbo.

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Costa Rica beat Japan 1-0 with their only shot on target in the World Cup so far 😲 <a href="https://t.co/P7O32NLrCY">pic.twitter.com/P7O32NLrCY</a>
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Even though the experts had placed their bets on Japan before the kickoff,&nbsp;with Costa Rica now changing the qualification scenario completely&nbsp;after their win at the&nbsp;Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, it would be interesting to see what comes next during the last group stage matches.

Meanwhile, during the match, Japan looked sluggish overall. After a 2-minute opening burst, the rest of the game was seemingly played half-heartedly. They even tried changing gears in the second half by introducing attacking midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, but that didn't help them change the outcome in the end.

Fuller, during the fag end of the match, curled a shot, that ended up going past keeper&nbsp;Shuichi Gonda straight into the net giving Costa Rica much-needed relief.

Also Read&nbsp; -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-88966-fans-watched-argentina-mexico-game-live-in-stadium-biggest-crowd-in-28-years-537898">FIFA World Cup: 88,966 fans watched Argentina-Mexico game in stadium, biggest crowd in 28 years</a>

With this match now done, all eyes will be on the Spain-Germany game to see who advances to the next round. If Spain wins, they enter knockouts and Germany will be out of the World Cup.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Costa Rica bounced back on Sunday to win a shocking 1-0 match in Group E against Japan at the FIFA World Cup 2022. With this win, they severely damaged the Samurais’ chances of making it to the World Cup's round of 16.

Costa Rica bounced back on Sunday to win a shocking 1-0 match in Group E against Japan at the FIFA World Cup 2022. With this win, they severely damaged the Samurais’ chances of making it to the World Cup's round of 16. Costa Rica's Keysher Fuller stunned the Japanese in the game’s 81st minute by converting his team's first shot on target into a goal. Japan, who had hoped to reach the round of 16 following their historic victory over Germany in the opener, suffered an untimely thrashing at the hands of Costa Rica, thus putting their ambitions of reaching the knockout stages in limbo. Costa Rica beat Japan 1-0 with their only shot on target in the World Cup so far 😲 pic.twitter.com/P7O32NLrCY — B/R Football (@brfootball) November 27, 2022 × Even though the experts had placed their bets on Japan before the kickoff, with Costa Rica now changing the qualification scenario completely after their win at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, it would be interesting to see what comes next during the last group stage matches. Meanwhile, during the match, Japan looked sluggish overall. After a 2-minute opening burst, the rest of the game was seemingly played half-heartedly. They even tried changing gears in the second half by introducing attacking midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, but that didn't help them change the outcome in the end. Fuller, during the fag end of the match, curled a shot, that ended up going past keeper Shuichi Gonda straight into the net giving Costa Rica much-needed relief. Also Read - FIFA World Cup: 88,966 fans watched Argentina-Mexico game in stadium, biggest crowd in 28 years With this match now done, all eyes will be on the Spain-Germany game to see who advances to the next round. If Spain wins, they enter knockouts and Germany will be out of the World Cup. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

FIFA World Cup 2022: Costa Rica inflict 1-0 defeat on sluggish Japan

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FIFA Women's World Cup on pace to smash attendance records, says FA's chief executive James Johnson

FIFA World Cup 2022: Costa Rica inflict 1-0 defeat on sluggish Japan