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Milestone of 500,000 fans achieved after 19 days of football, music and entertainment;\u00a0Host Cities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand have offered a free-to-enter FIFA Fan Festival\u2122 (<\/em>https:\/\/www.FIFA.com<\/a><\/em>);\u00a0Ashleigh Gell from Sydney gifted two tickets for FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup Final.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The first-ever FIFA Fan Festival\u2122 at a FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup\u2122 have been a resounding success and on Monday night celebrated welcoming more than 500,000 fans across all host cities.<\/p>\n Ashleigh Gell from Sydney\/Gadigal was left stunned as she was invited onto the stage at the FIFA Fan Festival in her home town to represent the 500,000th visitor across all host cities and offered two match tickets to the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup Final by FIFA Head of Marketing Operations & Event Promotion, Gerdine Lindhout.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s pretty crazy and we\u2019re so stoked that we\u2019re the 500,000th people to come through,\u201d said Gell who came to the FIFA Fan Festival to support Australia, along with her friend Sarah Gay from France.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been trying to get our hands on some tickets for the remaining games, so to get this prize \u2013 we are pretty happy about that,\u201d said Gell who had particularly enjoyed watching the underdog teams getting through to the play-offs.<\/p>\n FIFA Fan Festivals (formerly FIFA Fan Fests) have been a regular feature of the FIFA World Cup since 2006, but this year\u2019s tournament in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand has been the first time this unique fan experience has been offered in all host cities of the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n Since its inception, the FIFA Fan Festivals have welcomed almost 40 million visitors across five continents and the interest has been equally huge at the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup, with a record 50,000 visitors coming through the gates on July 27, the night when Australia\u2019s Matildas played Canada.<\/p>\n The free-to-enter FIFA Fan Festival shows the matches live on big screens and offers an exciting programme of music, entertainment, local culture, culinary highlights by award-winning chefs and fun fan activities for all ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n The programme has included some of the biggest names in the Australian and Kiwi music industry with artists like Ladyhawke, Jessica Mauboy, Kimbra and San Cisco among the long list of high-profile acts, as well as up-and-coming local talents.<\/p>\n Sydneysider Gell said the FIFA Fan Festival was all about \u201cgood vibes, friends and football\u201d.<\/p>\n The visitor numbers have peaked during matches, but the appeal of the supporting entertainment and family activities have attracted a continuous stream of visitors throughout the days.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we consider the stadiums as the heart of the FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup 2023, the FIFA Fan Festival is definitely the life and soul,\u201d said FIFA\u2019s Gerdine Lindhout.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can come with your family; you can come with your friends. There is something for all ages and the entrance is free of charge.\u201d<\/p>\n The FIFA Fan Festival excitement is far from over with 10 matches still to be played until the Final in Stadium Australia on August 20, and seven host cities will continue to offer the unique match experience along with great performances from artists such as Montaigne, JessB, Kaylee Bell and Hollie Smith.<\/p>\n For the opening dates and times in each Host City, including which artists will be performing and when, please visit the\u202fFIFA Fan Festival website\u00a0(https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/3Qrbm0X<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n To access the video please click\u00a0HERE (https:\/\/apo-opa.info\/3rSDq2T<\/a><\/em><\/strong>).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n