Zurich: The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 edition onwards after the FIFA Council approved the proposal at a virtual meeting on Friday. This expansion will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104, extending the tournament by one week, and aligning it with the expanded men’s World Cup in 2026.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil, will maintain the current format of 32 teams. The 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand was the first to feature 32 teams, an increase from the 24 teams that competed in the 2019 tournament hosted by France.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that the expansion is a strategic move not merely to add more teams but to advance the development of women’s football globally. He stated that this change gives more FIFA member associations the opportunity to enhance their women’s football structures comprehensively.
The U.S. is poised to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup, being the sole bidder, marking the third time the country will stage the tournament after previously hosting it in 1999 and 2003. The United Kingdom stands as the sole bidder for the 2035 tournament, though the hosts for the 2031 and 2035 editions have yet to be confirmed.
Despite concerns about potential one-sided matches with 48 teams, Infantino highlighted the 2023 Women’s World Cup as evidence of growing competitiveness. The tournament was noteworthy for teams from all confederations winning at least one game and teams from five confederations reaching the knockout stage, setting a new standard for global competitiveness.