New Delhi (AFP) – The Women’s World Cup 2025 has shattered all previous viewership records, attracting over 60 million fans during the first 13 matches, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday.
The ICC confirmed that this year’s edition marks a historic milestone — it is the first women’s tournament to offer higher prize money than the previous men’s ODI World Cup, with an impressive total purse of $13.88 million (approximately €11.9 million).
The 13th edition of the Women’s 50-over World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, features eight competing teams and will culminate with the final on November 2.
According to data jointly released by the ICC and JioHotstar, the event’s opening 13 matches have already reached more than 60 million viewers, representing a fivefold increase compared to the 2022 edition.
A major highlight was the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash in Colombo on October 5, which became the most-watched women’s international cricket match ever, drawing 28.4 million viewers globally.
Defending champions Australia are aiming for a record eighth Women’s World Cup title, while hosts India continue their campaign in pursuit of their first-ever crown.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s fixtures are being played exclusively in Colombo, following a neutral venue agreement that allows both India and Pakistan to participate in multi-nation tournaments without directly hosting each other’s matches.
The record-breaking viewership underscores the growing global appeal of women’s cricket, with fans across continents tuning in to witness one of the most competitive World Cups in history.
