FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
The decision, announced following a FIFA Council meeting on Friday, comes in response to the rapid growth of the women’s game globally.
The 2031 tournament is set to be hosted by the United States, while the UK is expected to host the expanded event in 2035. The new format will feature 12 groups of four teams and more than 100 matches, aligning with the format used in the expanded men’s World Cup.
FIFA’s decision follows consultation with its continental confederations and reflects the growing competitiveness and popularity of women’s football. The tournament grew from 24 to 32 teams in 2023, and the 2027 edition in Brazil will maintain that number.
The 2035 tournament in the UK may require additional host cities and stadiums, with venues like Wembley, Hampden Park, and the Principality Stadium likely candidates. Potential future stadiums such as Manchester United’s proposed new ground and Birmingham City’s planned 62,000-seater stadium could also be included if completed in time.
Additionally, FIFA has approved a three-pillar strategy to support Afghan women’s football, including the creation of a refugee team composed of evacuated Afghan players. This team will be eligible to take part in FIFA-organized friendlies and tournaments. However, Afghanistan has not been entered into the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, meaning it is unlikely to participate in the 2027 World Cup.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has said that cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is deepening despite turbulence in global politics and t...
Brazil opens three weeks of events linked to the COP30 climate summit, hoping to showcase a world still determined to tackle global warming....
Key elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City are entering their final stretch, with the latest polls showing competitive contests that hav...
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has announced that Germany will provide Ghana with €65 million (approximately $69 million) in development a...
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, is entering the U.S. dollar and euro debt markets with a multi-tranche senior unsecured notes issue....
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched on Tuesday through the northern Italian city of Udine ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Israel, ending their mostly peaceful rally with clashes involving police.
Chelsea clinched the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino is looking forward to his team's Gold Cup final against Mexico, viewing it as possibly their last opportunity to play under real pressure before the FIFA World Cup next year.
Uzbekistan and Jordan secured historic World Cup berths for the first time on Thursday, while South Korea confirmed their place and Australia edged closer in Asia's qualification campaign for the 2026 tournament in North America.
Russia said on Monday that its troops had advanced in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub that they have been trying to capture for over a year, but Ukraine said its forces were holding on.
Ukraine’s top military commander has confirmed that troops are facing “difficult conditions” defending the strategic eastern town of Pokrovsk against a multi-thousand Russian force.
Russia has launched its new nuclear-powered submarine, the Khabarovsk, at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, the Defence Ministry said Saturday.
At least 37 people have died and five are missing after devastating floods and landslides hit central Vietnam, officials said Monday, as a new typhoon threatens to worsen the disaster.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not believe the United States is going to war with Venezuela despite growing tensions, though he suggested President Nicolás Maduro’s time in power may be nearing its end.
Pakistan’s military has dismissed claims that it holds an agreement with the United States permitting attacks on Afghanistan from its territory.
China has announced it will extend its visa-free policy for a further year, with Swedish citizens now included in the scheme.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has said that cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is deepening despite turbulence in global politics and the world economy.
Key elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City are entering their final stretch, with the latest polls showing competitive contests that have attracted national attention.
The eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk has emerged as a critical point in Russia’s campaign to seize the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk, and its fate could shape the course of the conflict in the region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment