An important milestone in the countdown to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ was reached on Tuesday, when the tournament’s ticketing launch event was held atop the Montparnasse Tower in Paris. Organised by the France 2019 Local Organising Committee (LOC) and FIFA under bright blue skies, the event was attended by the media and a number of football celebrities.

“The tower is home to the LOC, which is working every day to make this Women’s World Cup one of the best ever,” said French Football Association (FFF) Vice-President Brigitte Henriques on welcoming those present at the event, among them the mayors of the tournament’s nine Host Cities and France’s women’s team coach Corinne Diacre.

“Our common goal is to make this event a family-oriented celebration for everyone,” said Diacre, a former Bleues player. “We have had the good fortune to be hosting this World Cup. What we have to do now is fill the stadiums,” added FFF President Noël Le Graet.

“The best ever” FIFA President Gianni Infantino then spoke, voicing his ambitions for the tournament: “We want this to be the very best Women’s World Cup in FIFA’s history,” he said. “And I am sure that it will be, because we are in France, the home of the men’s world champions and the home of world champions when it comes to welcoming people. Everyone loves coming to France and we all know what the nine Host Cities have to offer.

“We’re looking for a billion TV viewers around the world and I am sure we will get them because women’s football is growing fast,” added Infantino. “Compared to the men’s game, it is very appealing in terms of how competitive it is, because countries from all around the world can win it.”

Ticket packages France 2019 LOC President Erwan Le Prevost then took to the stage to reveal the details of the ticketing programme and highlighted the fact that tickets would be priced in such a way to make them appealing to families and as many people as possible. Tickets will be available in packages, split into ten options and four categories.

Tickets will go on sale on 19 September to the French football family and host cities. They will be made available to the public on 19 October.

FFF Secretary General Laura Georges, who played in three women’s world finals competitions in her storied career, brought the launch event to an end, saying: “The passion of the fans and full stadiums are what make a World Cup great.

“The presence of the fans can change everything,” continued the former international, who pointed to the example provided by the 'orange tide' that swept the Netherlands to victory when they hosted the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017. “When I think of France 1998, I say to myself that the fans can really make all the difference.”