More people than ever before will watch a Women’s Soccer Bundesliga match in the stadium on Sunday. The sport is on the upswing.

With 38 365 fans against Eintracht Frankfurt, 1. FC Köln ensured a record number of spectators in the women’s soccer Bundesliga. Thus, in the match at the Cologne stadium on Sunday, the previous record of 23 200 visitors of the Frankfurt women in the season-opening match in September against FC Bayern Munich was significantly exceeded.

Even before the 18th matchday, the average attendance in the league had risen to 2430. In the previous season, it was still only 806 – partly due to Corona. “The highlight match concept and in particular the courage of the clubs to go to large stadiums has paid off. The trend is sustainable and illustrates what is possible in women’s soccer,” said DFB Vice President Sabine Mammitzsch. “This is a huge success and we want to continue this development.”

The German national team’s European Championship success in England last year has since led to a visible upswing in the league. The encounter in Cologne was the fourth in this round a large stadium. After Eintracht, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (7109 spectators against VfL Wolfsburg), VfL Wolfsburg twice (21 287 against Bayern Munich and 14 027 against Frankfurt) and Werder Bremen (20 417 against SC Freiburg) also played in large arenas.

The Eintracht women can already reclaim the record from Cologne on May 14 against Wolfsburg. Cologne will also host the DFB Cup final between VfL Wolfsburg and SC Freiburg on May 18.