Women’s football predicted to eclipse 800million fans by 2030 | OneFootball

A new research project has predicted that women’s football could boom over the next five years, with 800million fans expected to support the game by 2030.

There is no doubt that popularity in women’s football is booming right now and ahead of Euro 2025 this summer there are more fans than ever tuning in to support the women.

According to a report conducted by Nielson Sports and PepsiCo, the women’s game is expected to grow by 38% over the next five years.

Currently there are approximately 500million women’s football fans globally, but that figure is expected to eclipse the 800m mark before 2030.

Nielson Sports managing director, Samanth Lamberti, said: “We have long believed in the potential of women’s football, and today, we’re no longer just tracking progress, we’re witnessing a breakthrough.

“From media rights to sponsorship and fan engagement, this is no longer a case of future promise but present value.”

Should women’s football reach the predicted 800m supporters by 2030, it would become one of the top five most-watched sports in the world.

While the support for women’s football is still predominantly female based, 40% of the current audience are males.

Audience growing with Lionesses success

The report found that women’s football has grown in the UK by over 15% in the past two years, which could largely be due to the Lionesses success at Euro 2022 followed by an impressive run at the World Cup in 2023.

Executive Vice President of PepsiCo, Jane Wakely, stated: “At PepsiCo, we see women’s football as more than just a sport, it’s a cultural force with the power to connect, inspire and grow our brands.

“As a business, we’re proud to partner with UEFA Women’s Football, the Fifa Women’s World Cup, the WNBA and leading athletes across the world, because we know these platforms unlock powerful passion points for an increasingly engaged and influential audience.”

With Euro 2025 just around the corner this summer, the tournament could play a huge part in boosting the profile of women’s football on a global stage.

The men’s Club World Cup has come under heavy scrutiny already during the knockout stage and the women’s Euros could earn even more interest due to the lack of support for the new tournament.