Some 3.3 million Americans tuned¹ in to watch Team USA's opening win against Australia, FIFA said, three times the number who saw its opener in Germany four years ago.

 

In China, viewership nearly doubled for the country's first game while 16 percent more Japanese - 4.2 million - watched their defending champions beat Switzerland in the opener than watched them in the semifinals in the last tournament.

 

A showdown between France and England drew roughly 1.5 million viewers in each country, a third more French viewers than last time.

 

The figures, while far below the average official rating of 188.4 million viewers per game in the men's World Cup in Brazil last year, highlights the growing momentum² in the women's game.

 

Women's football has played second fiddle³ to the more lucrative⁴ men's game but the bribery⁵ scandal surrounding FIFA has spurred interest in a section of the sport less drenched⁶ in money.

 

"The reason people sponsor sport is to connect to the ideals of sport," said Wade⁷ Oosterman, president of BCE Inc, a major sponsor and parent of the event's broadcaster, Bell Media.

 

"It's the joy of the game, it's competition, it's integrity and fair play, it's all those positive attributes - and thank God the Women's World Cup represents those in spades."

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