Emma Hayes has predicted the Lionesses selling out at Wembley will soon become “the norm.”
Chelsea boss Hayes believes England’s Euro success will have an “incredible” impact on the women’s game and be a game-changer. It comes as the Football Association announced that 65,000 tickets had been sold in just 24 hours for England’s friendly with the USA at Wembley on October 7.
They only announced the fixture after England won the Euros in front of a sold out 87,192 at Wembley on Sunday and it means the European champions will play the world champions in a high profile friendly to maintain the momentum. Hayes said: “In five years’ time I suspect that selling out Wembley will be something of a norm as opposed to you a one off.
“I always think legacies are hard to predict because it will only be when we look back in five years, probably that we will see what that jump will actually be. Because if I rewind five years, and see the development and growth of the game from then to now, it's already been unbelievable.
“Sunday is the day we've waited for such a long time. And for once, we are not going to have to sell the sport short, it will sell itself from here on in, thank goodness, because as I've said a million times over, we could have sold Wembley out three or four times. And the atmosphere, the generation of fans we will now attract to the sport will be unprecedented. And I don't have a Mystic Ball. I couldn't tell you what it will look like all I can say is I'm really excited.”
Hayes now believes England have a genuine chance at next year’s World Cup - but says the competition will be even tougher.
“I think it's fair to say that we were very much favourites at a home tournament,” said Hayes. “Having home advantage certainly helps and I think crossing the globe to play in Australia, with the title of European Champions adds pressure.
“But I do think we've got a fantastic group of younger players coming through that can build on the current success. So of course, as European champions, we will go in as one of the favourites.”
Hayes also praised Chelsea’s Fran Kirby, Millie Bright, Beth England and Jess Carter for their contribution to the Euros success - and said it made her feel like a “proud parent” who had just “won the lottery."
She added: “Great people make great teams. I think they are relatable. Everybody can see themselves or their children in them. I think the responsibility to deliver for the nation is something that inspired them and didn't paralyze them.
“Especially in the moment on Sunday night at 1-1 . I think it was unbelievable how they dealt with the challenges of the game and the tournament. As far as Millie and Fran and Jess Carter and Beth England too, it's like being a proud parent. I felt like a Mum and my kids had just won the lottery!
“And that was, I think, something that will live in my memory forever. And I'm so proud because people don't really see the people behind the players and what they have to go through to get there and they're all really special people.”
Emma Hayes was supporting McDonald’s Fun Football which will provide free coaching sessions to one million children and recruit over 100 new women’s coaches over the next four years. Sign up to your nearest session at mcdonalds.co.uk/football
