Women’s World Cup: Fans stunned by incredible food at stadiums across Australia and New Zealand
- Grabbing food and drink at the stadium is a big part of the football experience
- The Women’s World Cup is offering a strong array of food options for fans
- Here, Mail Sport rates the dishes on offer for fans at the tournament
Grabbing a drink and a bite to eat at the football is an intrinsic part of the sport – whether at grassroots or international level.
Plenty of fans love picking up a pie and a pint, or something more adventurous, before, during or after a game to supplement their viewing experience.
In fact, in recent years documenting your experience at the stadium has become a growing phenomenon on social media, aided in large part by the explosion of Twitter account ‘Footy Scran’ – scran being a slang word for food – asking supporters to rate and slate football venues’ offerings.
Many arenas get it wrong – with an appalling £7.50 cheese dog sold outside Manchester United’s ground labelled ‘criminal’ online, while Arsenal were among a number of clubs accused of fleecing fans with their sky high prices.
And at the Women’s World Cup it is no different, with fans noting the expensive price of grub at Sydney Football Stadium.
Some fans have complained about the food pricing at this year’s Women’s World Cup
But how does the food rate at the tournament Down Under? Here, Mail Sport runs through some of the food available at this year’s World Cup – and it’s fair to say there’s been very little disappointment among fans.
Fish and Chips – Eden Park – NZ$10 (£4.80)
Kicking the list off strong we have this brilliant offering from Eden Park – typically known for hosting All Blacks games in international rugby.
You’d have to search pretty hard to find fish and chips this appetizing anywhere else. The fish appears to be covered in a golden breadcrumb – as opposed to the traditional battering – while there’s some greenery underneath with the chips.
A dollop of tartare sauce plus a wedge of lemon takes the dish to the next level, too.
How much will it set you back? Unbelievably, it is going for just under £5 – although some fans on Twitter suggested the price is closer to £6. Either way, an absolute bargain.
This fish and chips dish at Eden Park was largely praised by football fans on Twitter
BBQ Chicken Wings – Eden Park – NZ$16 (£7.50)
If you fancy getting your fingers dirty, Eden Park has just the option for you with these BBQ chicken wings.
This fan has treated himself to four wings, covered in a tasty sauce with some garnish. There’s also a handful of salad to the side, plus some dip.
It’s the sort of dish that would make Scr-Anthony Bourdain proud. The price of £7.50 is slightly on the expensive side of things, but you can’t argue with the quality here.
Eden Park also offers a decent serving of chicken wings with a side of salad
Double sausage hot dog – Waikato Stadium (NZ) – NZ$20 (£9.50)
A two-sausage hot dog, Waikato Stadium? That’s insane!
That’s right. The good people at Waikato Stadium in New Zealand are flogging double sausage hot dogs this World Cup, and it looks a challenge for only the most fervent scran enthusiast.
Contained in a sizeable slab of bread, two chunky dogs sit side by side, lathered in ketchup and mustard – a classic combination.
This is the most expensive of the New Zealand dishes on our list, coming in at a price of £9.50 – but you certainly won’t be hungry after tucking that away.
Waikato Stadium have gone bold with a double hot dog for the footy scran enthusiasts
Pork Belly Tacos + Corn Chips with Guacamole and Salsa – Stadium Australia – AU$27 (£13)
Across the Tasman, fans hoping for the football to guac their world can get a quick fix at the food stand, with Stadium Australia in Sydney offering this Mexican number.
Here we have pork belly tacos with a side of corn chips, plus guacamole and salsa – a high-end choice when compared to staple football venue options such as pies and hot dogs.
The folks in Sydney also seem to be fairly generous with their portions, there’s a decent portion of corn chips there, while the taco itself is a good size.
Stadium Australia has come under fire for its food prices, and this one will set you back £13.
Stadium Australia are serving the high-end option of tacos with corn chips for £13
Seafood basket – Brisbane Stadium – AU$17 (£8.90)
If you’re a follower of the Broncos in the NRL, you’ll likely be well aware of this offering at Brisbane Stadium – the seafood basket.
Fans can grab a selection of fish, plus chips and a choice of sauce for just under £9 in the Queensland arena.
When compared to the fish and chips served at Eden Park, the New Zealand venue comes out on top, but that’s not to say this isn’t a winner.
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is also offering a fish option, with this seafood basket
Deep Fried Cauliflower – Stadium Australia – Price unknown
Did you think the Women’s World Cup had forgotten about you, vegans? Well, think again!
With an alternative to a chicken bucket, Stadium Australia as a deep fried cauliflower bucket on its menu.
From the camera angle, it looks like a bucket – although the menu states that they sell ‘popcorn chicken’ for $16.50 – roughly £8.60.
Crispy and golden, it seems the perfect option for the meat-free lovers.
Stadium Australia has considered the vegetarian football fan with this popcorn cauliflower
Mince and Cheese pie and Curly Fries – Eden Park – NZ$9.50 (£4.50) and $10 (£4.80)
Back to a more traditional choice here, or so you thought.
Eden Park is serving pie and chips, but with a modern twist.
Here we have a pie with an obscure choice of filling – mince and cheese – accompanied by a side of curly fries, instead of your more traditional french fries.
Seasoned with a generous amount of pepper, this one looks like a winner to me – although there have to be big question marks over the curly fries coming in for a bigger price than the pie itself.
Eden Park has provided a modern twist to the classic ‘pie and chips’ at the World Cup
Fish and Chips – Stadium Australia – price unknown
They’ve given us tacos, they’ve given us popcorn cauliflowers, and now Stadium Australia is giving us fish and chips.
We have to bear in mind the camera angle here, which isn’t very flattering for the dish itself, but it’s fair to say this is the most disappointing of the fish and chip options we’ve seen.
While the fish doesn’t look too bad, with a nice golden battering – different to the breadcrumbs at Eden Park – the chips appear as though they could do with another few minutes in the deep fryer.
The fish and chips on offer at Stadium Australia leave a little to be desired
Mushroom and Spinach Pizza – Dunedin Fan Park – NZ$6 (£2.90)
Pizza has become a staple of the more hipster football clubs around the UK in recent years, and it is good to see Dunedin Fan Park jump on the trend this World Cup.
For a touch under £3, fans can grab a slice of mushroom and spinach pizza, and the cheese servings are pretty generous too.
Just call me Scr-Ange Postecoglou, because this one is going straight in my basket.
Dunedin Fan Park is catering for the pizza lovers with this slice of mushroom and spinach pizza
Hot Dog – Melbourne Rectangular Stadium – AU$11.50 (£6)
You’ve got to feel for the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium when it comes to the battle of the hot dogs, because it’s virtually impossible to compete with New Zealand’s double dog.
In fairness, its a nifty little number. The bread has a lovely golden tone to it, the dog is a decent size and they’ve gone with the triple sauce combination of ketchup, mustard and barbecue sauce.
But for just another £3.50, you can double up in New Zealand. It’s a no-brainer.
You can also grab a hot dog at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium for £6
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