Women’s World Cup to expand to 48 teams from 2031

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.

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