The FIFA Women’s World Cup is kicking much needed goals for the city’s hotels with a spike in bookings as the opening match kicks off at Stadium Australia this week.

Incoming NSW tourism boss Stacey McBride said the event, which expects to see more than 80,000 spectators pack into Stadium Australia for the Matildas’ opening match against Ireland, has already created an uptick in hotel bookings around Western Sydney.

“We are seeing a high number of bookings for accommodation providers located in the vicinity of Olympic Park and hotel capacity right across Sydney is nearing 70%, reflecting a noticeable surge in demand,” Ms McBride said today.

According to FIFA, more than a million tickets have been sold for matches scheduled across Australia and New Zealand, with the opening match in Sydney being moved from its original site at Sydney Football Stadium to Stadium Australia to allow more spectators to attend.

“The soaring popularity of women’s sport, and the Matildas in particular, is undeniable and it’s fantastic to see,” Ms McBride said.

“In addition to equalling the playing field in Australian sport, it means that first-class stadia in NSW and across Australia more often have the chance to host tens of thousands of fans from every corner of the globe to cheer on their teams – both in men’s and women’s sport.

“For accommodation providers this translates to higher occupancy rates, while the local hospitality industry also sees an increase in both local and international visitor spend.

“When it comes to supporting Australian women’s sport it’s definitely a win-win for everyone.”