The image of a half-empty Wembley for the Women’s FA Cup Final has been spread widely, although the reality on the ground tells a dramatically different story. Over 77,000 people attended the 2023 match between Chelsea and Manchester United, which notably set a record for women’s football in the UK. The 2024 and 2025 finals followed with equally outstanding figures, suggesting sustained momentum rather than decline.
What produces the illusion, then, of enormous emptiness in such a packed event? For starters, Wembley’s design might be deceptively vast. Wide camera angles, unlit higher decks, and blocked-off parts intended for operations can produce visual gaps that appear wider than they are. These details—rarely highlighted in the broadcast—often lead to misinterpretation by casual viewers or detractors attempting to reduce women’s football to a one-frame story.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Wembley, London |
| Capacity | 90,000 |
| 2023 Attendance | 77,390 (record-breaking) |
| 2024 & 2025 Finals | Sell-out or near sell-out events |
| Empty Seat Misconceptions | Often due to visual optics or isolated seat blocks |
| Notable Barriers | High ticket prices (£30–£150), late Sunday kickoff, travel costs |
| COVID-era Finals | 2020 final held without fans due to restrictions |
| Key Takeaway | Attendance is strong, but access and cost still limit many fans |
More significantly, not every vacant seat indicates a lack of interest. Cost is a factor in many. With ticket prices reaching up to £150, and travel from outside London pushing total expenses even higher, attending the final has become a calculated decision for many fans—especially those from northern clubs who face additional barriers like rail delays, hotel fees, and limited Sunday transport options.
Over the past decade, the mood at Wembley has evolved considerably. Walking along Olympic Way before kickoff now feels like a community event—bands, family, fan zones, and flags turn the area into a celebration. The fan experience has been meticulously developed and is consistently scored well. The initiative has been especially successful in attracting younger, new supporters who might otherwise feel cut off from elite football.
Excitement, however, does not negate economics.
For a family of four, attending the final can easily cost over £400 when factoring for transport, food, and tickets. That reality inhibits many regular supporters from making repeat trips—especially if their club has appeared at Wembley multiple times in previous years. In the context of inflation and stagnating earnings, the expense becomes a significant impediment, not a casual irritation.
Fans have been vocal about this. During the men’s semi-finals in 2025, Manchester City supporters publicly described feeling priced out. Some skipped the semi-final to save for the final. Others described the hardship of securing Sunday night returns or risking a hotel stay only to support their side. The analogies with the women’s game are startlingly comparable.
Through strategic planning and marketing, the FA has attempted to minimize these barriers. Dynamic ticket pricing, earlier kickoff suggestions, and agreements with train suppliers have been proposed or attempted in previous seasons. These actions are especially helpful, although they do not completely resolve the problem.
Wembley, by design and history, has become a frequent destination for major finals, both for its status and size. Yet there’s growing recognition that having every final there—especially semi-finals—imposes a recurring burden on fans. In previous decades, these games were played in neutral grounds closer to the competing teams, a system some supporters say was more fair and financially feasible.
From a broader perspective, attendance at women’s football has greatly improved across the board. Arsenal sold 60,000 tickets at the Emirates. At Old Trafford, Manchester United shattered WSL records. What was formerly considered ambitious is now turning into a trustworthy standard. Not only is the game expanding, but it is doing so with purpose.
Clubs are adjusting, too. 8,000 tickets were sold in a single day as a result of Arsenal’s decision to sell semi-final tickets as soon as they advanced in the Champions League. That kind of reactivity shows a good understanding of how to harness momentum while it’s still new.
Marketing strategies have grown particularly clear in their aim, reaching directly to young fans, families, and grassroots supporters. Data reveals these demographics are very loyal once engaged—and highly responsive to inclusive messages and strong brand identification.
I remember watching one of these finals from the upper tier and noticed a curious division. While the lower parts were buzzing, the darkened upper bowl formed a visual shadow that seemed to contradict the sound and intensity below. From above, it might have seemed half-full. But in that moment, surrounded by kids shouting team chants and fans holding handmade signs, it didn’t feel anything less than full.
In that silent awareness, the framing of the tale became clear: perception and participation are not always linked.
During the pandemic, matches performed in silence offered a look into what women’s football had fought to overcome. Even if those days seem far away now with crowded fan zones and loud final whistles, they are still remembered. They’ve shaped how attendance is assessed, rewarded, and often unfairly questioned.
In the foreseeable years, structural changes—like rotating venues, subsidizing travel, and expanding kickoff flexibility—could drastically minimize empty seat visuals. But even without them, the game is moving forward.
The Women’s FA Cup Final has not been abandoned by fans. On the contrary, it’s being welcomed in increasingly apparent and exuberant ways. What remains is the obligation to make showing up not just conceivable, but practicable.
It’s not about filling every seat for a photo. It’s about assuring every fan that wants to be there truly can be.
