FIFA council vote to expand Women's World Cup to 48 teams from 2031 tournament onwards
Published 10/05/2025 at 08:56 GMT+1
The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of women's football, and now the FIFA council has unanimously voted to expand the tournament from 32 teams to 48. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are set to host the tournament in 2035, by which time the new format will be in place. Spain won the last edition of the competition in 2023 after beating England in the final.
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The FIFA council has decided to expand the Women's World Cup from 32 teams to 48 from the 2031 tournament onwards.
The move means the competition will be restructured, with 104 games played across 12 groups, 40 more matches than there were at the tournament in 2023.
England fell to defeat against Spain in the final of the previous Women's World Cup, and they look set to host the tournament alongside Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales under the new format in 2035.
The FIFA council voted unanimously for the change, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes it will give several countries the opportunity to develop their women's football set-up.
"[It is] a chance to benefit from the tournament, to develop their women's football structures," said Infantino.
"This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women's football globally."
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The next Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil in 2027, with the first edition of the competition under the new format set to take place in the United States and Mexico in 2031.
FIFPro called for the growth of the women's game to be reflected at all levels of the sport.
"[The World Cup expansion] reflects the global growth of the women's game," FIFPro said.
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"However, the support of players depends on inclusive decision-making and cooperative planning that respects all stakeholders.
"It is critical that the global development of women's competitions goes hand in hand with improved labour conditions and the advancement of players, as well as development further down the pyramid.
"This is the only path to true sustainability, expansion, and progress."
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