FIFA’s Infantino points to US hosting 2031 Women’s World Cup and UK getting 2035 edition
U.S. and U.K. Set to Host Future Women’s World Cups as FIFA Eyes Expansion
BELGRADE, Serbia — The United States and the United Kingdom appear poised to secure hosting rights for the next two editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, as the tournament prepares to expand from 32 to 48 teams.
On Thursday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the U.S. is the only nation to have submitted an expression of interest for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, while England is leading the lone valid bid for the 2035 edition. The formal bidding process remains ongoing, with final bid documents due by the end of April.
The U.S. Soccer Federation, long expected to pursue hosting rights for 2031, confirmed its commitment and hinted at a broader collaboration within the CONCACAF region, possibly including Mexico.
“We look forward to sharing more details and unveiling our full vision for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the near future,” the federation said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s bid for the 2035 tournament is being led by the English Football Association and supported by the UK’s home nations federations.
“Hosting the first FIFA World Cup since 1966 with our home nations partners will be very special,” said FA CEO Mark Bullingham. “The hard work starts now to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly backed the bid last month after FIFA officially opened the bidding process. FIFA had previously ruled out European bids for the 2031 tournament, paving the way for a U.S.-led effort.
While Spain had shown interest in a potential 2031 bid alongside Portugal and Morocco — mirroring their successful men’s 2030 World Cup hosting proposal — they ultimately did not meet FIFA’s initial deadline to submit an expression of interest. Infantino’s recent comments suggest that Spain is no longer in contention.
“So the path is there for the Women’s World Cup to be taking place in ’31 and ’35 in some great countries,” Infantino stated, “to boost even more the women’s football movement.”
FIFA plans to officially announce the hosts for both editions in 2026. The upcoming 2027 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Brazil, featuring 32 teams.
The 2031 edition would mark the third time the U.S. hosts the Women’s World Cup, having previously done so in 1999 and 2003. England, on the other hand, hosted the Women’s European Championship in 2022 — which the national team won — and will co-host the Men’s Euro 2028 alongside Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
FIFA Proposes More Women’s Teams for 2028 Olympic Games
In another major development for women’s football, Infantino revealed FIFA’s proposal to expand the women’s Olympic tournament for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Currently, the men’s competition features 16 teams while the women’s has just 12.
FIFA’s new plan is to reverse that balance, increasing the women’s teams to 16 and reducing the men’s to 12. This would represent a significant step toward greater gender equality in Olympic football.
The final decision lies with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has traditionally emphasized gender balance across all sports but also enforces strict athlete quotas. Adding more women’s teams would mean accommodating approximately 70 additional athletes and staff.
The IOC’s Executive Board is set to meet next Wednesday, when a decision on the proposal could be made.