The number of fans who watched the England Women's World Cup campaign increased by 185 per cent compared to the previous two major tournaments, TV figures have revealed.
Mark Sampson’s side played seven games during their month-long stay in Canada.
The peak viewing audiences across those games totalled 14.6 million – a mammoth increase on the totals recorded at both the 2013 European Championship and 2011 World Cup combined.
Fans cheer on Lionesses from home
- Combined peak audiences of 14.6m
- Increase of 185 per cent over previous two tournaments
- England v Japan watched by almost half of entire TV audience
- 2.38m watched England's semi-final
As England achieved a record-breaking third-place finish with a 1-0 victory against Germany, viewing figures peaked at 2.28 million.
Three nights earlier 2.38m tuned in to watch the heart-breaking semi-final defeat against Japan – almost half of the entire TV viewing public at the time.
Meanwhile, the Lionesses campaign’ saw an overall 'average’ audience of 1.6m.
This was 81 per cent higher than the 890,000 in 2013 (from three games) and 329 per cent higher than the 380,000 (also three games) from the last World Cup in 2011.
Both tournaments in 2011 and 2013 were also shown across the BBC.
England's players and staff received a warm welcome at Heathrow Airport
After their welcome at Heathrow Airport on Monday, following a brief break, the majority of the squad are straight back into training with their clubs as The FA WSL season resumes on 12 July.
SSE Women's FA Cup Finalists Chelsea Ladies take on Bristol Academy, while Manchester City Women welcome Birmingham Ladies to the Academy Stadium.
Notts County, who are Chelsea's opponents in the 1 August showpiece, travel to Sunderland, while Arsenal welcome Liverpool to Boreham Wood FC.
Click here for more information about where you can was the Lionesses in action on home soil.
