The FIFA Council on Friday unanimously approved plans to expand the Women’s World Cup to 48 teams.
The tournament will be expanded from 32 to 48 nations for the 2031 edition, which is expected to be hosted by the United States.
It’s the only bid on the table, and will be ratified by FIFA in 2026.
It will bring the women’s competition in line with the men’s, which will feature 48 international teams as of 2026 and is being hosted by the same three Concacaf countries.
The 48-team FIFA Women’s World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week.
The hosting requirements for the 2031 and 2035 editions of the Women’s World Cup have been adapted accordingly, FIFA said on Friday.
The first Women’s World Cup was held in 1991 and featured 12 countries, before expanding to 16 in 1999, then 24 in 2015 and 32 teams for the most recent tournament in 2023.
The 2027 event, being played in Brazil, will still have 32 competing nations.
“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 by ensuring that more FIFA Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their…
