The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams in time for the 2035 tournament in the United Kingdom.
The decision was taken during a virtual FIFA Council meeting on Friday. It will take effect from 2031 when the Women’s World Cup is due to be staged in the United States.
“This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women’s football globally,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
FIFA still needs to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts. The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams.
It means the number of matches will jump from 64 under the 32-team format to 104 – as will be the case at the men’s World Cup in 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
There will be concerns in the women’s game about more mismatches like the 13-0 victory by the USA over Thailand at the 2019 Women’s World Cup when there were 24 finalists.
But adding another 12 teams for the Australia-New Zealand tournament in 2023 did not produce a result as one-sided.
The Netherlands did thrash Vietnam 7-0 but the Americans only beat the newcomers 3-0.
FIFPRO, the world’s largest players’ union, has cautiously welcomed the news but questioned whether the trickle-down effect of increased support for the women’s game, as promised by FIFA, would come to fruition.
A statement read: “In principle we welcome the expansion of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as it reflects the global growth of the women’s game. However, the support of players depends on inclusive decision-making and cooperative planning that respects all stakeholders.
“It is critical that the global development of women’s competitions goes hand in hand with improved labour conditions and the advancement of players, as well as development further down the pyramid. This is the only path to true sustainability, expansion, and progress.”
The English-led bid is the only contender for the 2035 Women’s World Cup after Spain-Portugal-Morocco did not submit a valid joint entry as planned.
Britain should be able to cope with 104 matches with stadiums across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales set to be used.
England won the Women’s European Championship at Wembley in 2022.
The Football Association’s chief executive Mark Bullingham said in April: “Hosting England’s first FIFA World Cup since 1966, along with our home nations partners, will be very special.”
There are hopes that hosting the tournament at stadiums across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will help grow the popularity of the women’s game in the UK.
It comes following England’s success in the Euro 2022 final and 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final.
England star Chloe Kelly told Sky News last year: “The Euros here was amazing and a World Cup would be absolutely incredible.
“I think it’s everyone’s dream, of course… England fans love football and we’re ready to get behind the team. So I think it’s important that we have many celebratory moments together.”
