FIFA Council has unanimously voted to expand the Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams starting from the 2031 edition.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision was made during a virtual meeting on Friday.
The expanded tournament will feature a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the competition by one week.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the expansion will provide more opportunities for countries to develop women’s football.
“This is not just about having 16 more teams playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general,” he said.
“More FIFA member associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures from a holistic point of view.”
The 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil, will still feature 32 teams. The 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand was the first to have 32 teams, up from 24 in the 2019 tournament hosted by France.
The US is expected to be named host of the 2031 Women’s World Cup as the only bidder, marking the country’s third time hosting the tournament after 1999 and 2003. The UK is the sole bidder for the 2035 tournament. While the hosts for the 2031 and 2035 editions have yet to be ratified, this expansion is set to further grow the global reach and development of women’s football.
