Question that is asked more and more as women's football grows in popularity: who fills the stadiums and watches broadcasts? Women supporting their gender? Or men who have been following football out of habit but now discover new names? The answer, as usual, is more complex than it seems. The closer we get to 2026, the more obvious it becomes that gender boundaries on the stands are blurring. Myth of the "women's" fan For a long time, it was believed that women, especially teenage girls, were the main audience for women's football. There was logic in this: a role model, the struggle for equality, the desire to support "their own". But research on the audience in recent years (including surveys at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups) paints a different picture. On average, the proportion of men among the audience for women's football ranges from 45% to 55%, and even reaches 60% at top tournaments. That is, men are not less, and sometimes even more passionate. The difference is in how they watch and which matches they choose. Male audience: fans of the game, not gender Men coming to women's football rarely discuss "cuteness" or "femininity". They talk about tactics, speed, shots. For them, it's just good football. Research shows that men are more likely to watch playoffs and finals of major tournaments than group matches. They are attracted by the heat, penalty shootouts, drama. Especially popular is women's football among fathers with daughters who play football. They switch from "men's" football because they see the same dedication in girls. Men in the millennial age group (30-45 years) are the most active group: they grew up in an era when women's football was already on TV, and do not feel uncomfortable with the thought that a woman is kicking the ball. Female audience: identity and empathy Women undoubtedly make up the backbone of support. But their motivation is different. They value representation: seeing strong, successful athletes on screen who are not fig ... Read more