The superfans descending on England for Euro 2022

A record-breaking 500,000 tickets have been sold for the Women’s Euros, which kicks off with England versus Austria this Wednesday.

The UK will welcome football fans from 99 different countries including many that do not have teams taking part in the tournament.

Some of the destinations include places as far as South Africa, Singapore and India. Sportsmail decided to speak to some of the fans coming over to England to hear why they wanted to be part of what is set to be a historic tournament.

Katelyn Tigchelaar is flying over from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to watch the Netherlands play Sweden and Italy take on Belgium.

Katelyn Tigchelaar is flying over from Canada to watch the Netherlands play

‘My family is Dutch, my grandparents immigrated here from the Netherlands when they were younger and have kept on with some Dutch traditions,’ she tells Sportsmail. 

‘So I’ve had a particular affection for watching the men’s Dutch team in the WC for years and now I’ve got a chance to watch the women play live for the first time so I’m buzzing about that.

‘As for the other match between Italy and Belgium, It’s being played at the Academy stadium and I became a huge Man City women fan over the course of the pandemic, and with the creation of the FA player so international viewers can watch, so I’m looking forward to visiting their stadium. I’m looking forward to watching players like [Vivianne] Miedema, [Danielle] Van de Donk, [Lieke] Martens, and [Jackie] Groenen play.’

Katelyn Tigchelaar is flying over from Canada to watch Holland and the likes of (l-r) Vivianne Miedema, Danielle van de Donk and Lieke Martens

Gianluca Luca is travelling from Malta and will be attending the opening game at Old Trafford and the final. ‘I am a huge fan of the women’s game and these European Championships promise to be one of the best ever international tournaments in the history of female football. It is simply unmissable.

Gianluca Luca is travelling from Malta and will be attending the opening game

‘I am rooting for Italy so maybe I will be lucky to see them contend in the final come July 31. At the same time, I am looking forward to watching England play given they are the hosts and they have a huge following.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing [Italy’s] Cristiana Girelli and Barbara Bonansea. They have been pivotal for Juventus in the Women’s Champions League and I am curious to see their impact at this level, once again, after their strong showings at the 2019 World Cup.’

Suzilawati Mohamed Zain is a Manchester United fan from Singapore and is attending group games between Denmark and Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands and Belgium versus France as well as the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

‘It’s always been my dream to experience a football tournament at least once in my lifetime,’ he says. 

Gianluca Luca is looking forward to catching Cristiana Girelli in action for Italy in England

Barbara Bonansea (right) is also part of the Italy side that arrived in England on Monday

The first game of the tournament will take place at Old Trafford as England take on Austria

‘Being an international fan who sometimes have to stay up at some weird hour to watch my favourite club playing or to watch other big games in the UWCL or the Euros and World Cups, it’s a delight to be at a football tournament where you’ll be watching a couple of big games in a row. 

‘I’ll also get to meet some of the Manchester United Barmy Army family that I’ve gotten to know through Twitter.

‘It might not be the World Cup but to me, this feels like the biggest women’s football tournament as you have some of the best women players in the world.’

Unnati Naidu is flying to England from Mumbai, India, and is intending to stay for the whole tournament. ‘The Euros is one of the biggest tournaments on the continent, with the finest teams competing to be crowned European champions,’ she says.

Suzilawati Mohamed Zain (left) is a Manchester United fan from Singapore while Unnati Naidu (right) is flying to England from Mumbai

‘We are at a point in women’s football where interest is at an all-time high, with attendance and viewership records being smashed. As someone who has followed the game for many years, being a part of this would be a dream come true.

‘I might well have overdone the number of matches I intend to attend. I have covered every group match between Spain, the Netherlands, and England, as well as every game in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.

‘Attending group games for Spain and the Netherlands was critical for me because these are the two teams whose players initially drew me into women’s football. I saw them in the 2017 Euros, and the transition in the last few years has been enormous. Seeing these players fight and grow has undoubtedly impacted my life.’

Coming over from Johannesburg, South Africa, is Bayern Munich fan Melani Swart. ‘Being a long time women’s supporter from far has always had it’s struggles, I consider myself lucky enough to have seen one match live in England and a few local games too, but a major tournament has been a pipe dream for so many years,’ she says.

‘When the Euros was announced to be in England I decided that it was definitely going to be a bucket list trip for me.

Bayern Munich fan Melani Swart is coming over from South Africa and looking forward to seeing Gerrmany in action

‘I’ll be attending five group stage games, two quarter finals, both semi finals and the final. Knowing this would likely be a once in a lifetime trip I really wanted to try and see as many of my club’s [Bayern] players in person too, I am still on the hunt for a ticket to an Iceland match. 

‘The team I’m looking forward to seeing most is Germany, but I’m also really excited to see Austria, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. The more I get to see the better!’

Karen Alvarez is another fan flying over from Canada and is watching two of Spain’s group games against Finland and Germany.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing Alexia [Putellas] play of course, but also a lot of other players on the team as well like Aitana [Bonmati], Patri [Guijarro], Esther [Gonzalez] and Marta Cardona,’ she adds. 

‘I’m also a big Arsenal fan so I can’t wait to see how our players in the tournament do too. I love women’s soccer so, to me, the best way to support international tournaments is by showing up and watching live. Being there in person is such a great atmosphere.’

Flying over from Maryland in the United States is Ally, who is watching Germany’s final group game with Finland as well as three quarter-finals, both semis and the final.

She says: ‘I think this feels like the biggest lead up to a women’s tournament for sure. You’ve got so many of the world’s best players who will be facing off, and there’s been great publicity for the tournament so far, from what I can see over here in the States. 

Karen Alvarez is flying over from Canada and excited to see two Spain group games including Alexia Putellas

‘I feel like the World Cup in 2019 really changed a lot of peoples’ views on women’s soccer and helped to kick off a lot of the changes we’ve seen in the three years since.

‘Ada Hegerberg is one of my absolute favorite players, and I’m really glad she’s decided to return to the Norwegian national team, and I’d love to be able to see her play in person. 

‘I’m also an FC Bayern Frauen fan, so I’d like to see as many of the Bayern players as I can! Plus of course players like [Vivianne] Miedema, [Fran] Kirby, and [Marie-Antoinette] Katoto would be great to see in person.’