FIFA has confirmed that the Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, beginning with the 2031 edition, as announced on Friday.
The decision was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council and mirrors the structure of the men’s tournament.
According to FIFA, the move reflects the “remarkable recent strides made by women’s football across the world.” The expanded format will feature 12 groups, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week.
Read Also: FIFA confirms host cities for 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil
Infantino: 2023 World Cup set a new benchmark
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the decision was inspired by the success of the 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, which was won by Spain.
“The 2023 edition, the first where teams from all confederations won at least one game and five confederations reached the knockout stage, set a new standard for global competitiveness,” Infantino noted.
He added that the expansion is not just about adding more teams, but also about “ensuring more FIFA Member Associations have the opportunity to develop their women’s football structures.”
Next editions and hosting bids
The 2027 Women’s World Cup, to be held in Brazil, will remain at 32 teams. FIFA has yet to officially ratify the hosts for 2031 and 2035, though the United States is the sole candidate for the 2031 edition, while the United Kingdom is bidding for 2035.
Infantino confirmed last month, “As part of the bidding process, we received one bid for 2031 and one valid bid for 2035.”
