Women's World Cup To Expand To 48 Teams From 2031

Fifa has announced that nan Women's World Cup will beryllium expanded from 32 to 48 teams from nan 2031 tournament.

The Fifa Council voted unanimously for nan changes that will beryllium successful spot for 2035 edition, owed to beryllium hosted successful nan United Kingdom.

As a consequence of nan summation successful teams, nan title will adopt a 12-group format pinch an summation 40 matches, up from 64 to 104, that will widen nan tourney by a week.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said nan changes would springiness much nations to "the chance to use from nan tourney to create their women's shot structures".

He added: "This determination ensures we are maintaining nan momentum successful position of increasing women's shot globally."

England reached nan last of nan astir caller Women's World Cup successful Australia and New Zealand successful 2023 earlier losing to Spain.

The Lionesses, on pinch Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, are group to person a chance to compete connected location ungraded successful 2035 pinch nan UK seen arsenic nan only "valid" bidder for nan tournament.

None of nan location nations person lifted nan trophy since its inception successful 1991.

Players' national Fifpro welcomed nan description "in principle" but called for a number of issues successful nan women's crippled to beryllium addressed.

"[The World Cup description ] reflects nan world maturation of nan women's game," Fifpro said.

"However, nan support of players depends connected inclusive decision-making and cooperative readying that respects each stakeholders.

"It is captious that nan world improvement of women's competitions goes manus successful manus pinch improved labour conditions and nan advancement of players, arsenic good arsenic improvement further down nan pyramid.

"This is nan only way to existent sustainability, description , and progress."