Heavy lifting after the World Cup

On the seven rounds before the summer World Cup, this year's all-Swedish season had an audience average of 751 spectators per match. In the seven rounds after the World Cup, the average was 983 spectators, an increase of just over 30 percent.

The national team midfielder Elin Rubensson has experienced after the World Cup that her Gothenburg has greatly increased the home section. Although the club has free entrance to all all Swedish home matches this year - a number of companies compensate for the loss of income - in the spring, Gothenburg had at most 823 spectators (against Eskilstuna) at one match. Now the team has had over 1,000 spectators in three straight home matches.

- It has really been increased in all arenas around Sweden, and it is clear that it feels on the pitch, says Elin Rubensson.

- But it is mainly the interest in the matches, something has happened there. We are recognized in a different way. In general, interest has increased, many people still come to town and congratulate the successes. There is much more to this after the World Cup than it was before.

Göteborg's table fixture enters a crucial period of the season. On the one hand, the pursuit of the series leader Rosengård (two points up) is ongoing, and on the other hand the team will soon enter an important Champions League game, with an imminent 16 semi-final against German Bayern Munich.

Therefore, for all intents and purposes, today's Swedish match against Linköping has been moved to Old Ullevi, since the regular arena Valhalla does not meet the Champions League standard.

In the short term, Elin Rubensson hopes for large audience support - perhaps the season record, 2,449 spectators in the cup final against Kristianstad, risky - and three new points. In the longer term, she wishes the increased interest in the damall Swede will continue. Historically, the national team's success has only given a temporary boost, before the audience figures have dropped again.

- It is very difficult to know if it will last, but it feels like something has happened to women's soccer in general. You can see that in Europe, too, when the big clubs start investing. Something special has happened.

Linköping has also received a lift, with an audience average of over 1,500 spectators after the World Cup. However, the best figure - 2 866 spectators against Kristianstad - got some help on the pile through free tickets in connection with a youth tournament.

Team coach Olof Unogård hopes that the World Cup interest can hold up.

- I don't know how many breakthroughs women's soccer has been attributed to, and this summer's World Cup also felt like one. I think many people have opened their eyes to what incredibly good football is being played now. It is clear that there is a big difference in quality against the serial in the damall Swede, but I think that you have reached a larger and larger audience, where there were previously prejudices that women's soccer is not so developed. It has gone incredibly fast and gotten much better, and I think that just got an even bigger push this summer, which we see an effect of now, ”he says.