Women’s World Cup to expand to 48 teams at 2031 tournament | OneFootball

The Women’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams from the 2031 tournament onwards after the proposal was approved by the Fifa council on Friday.

The UK is set to host the event in 2035 and that tournament will now involve 12 groups of four teams and more than 100 matches, with the format mirroring the newly expanded men’s World Cup. It is understood Fifa took this decision after consulting the continental confederations and believe expansion of its most important tournament befits the rapid growth of the women’s game.

The World Cup increased in size from 24 to 32 teams for the 2023 event in Australia and New Zealand. It will again have 32 teams for the 2027 edition in Brazil. The eight venues for 2027’s event – including the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro – were confirmed earlier this week.

The United States is set to stage the 2031 tournament after there were no competing bids to stage either that or the 2035 event. The US and UK are yet to be formally ratified as the hosts but that is expected to be a formality.

The expansion of the Women’s World Cup could mean an increased number of host cities and stadiums will be required in the UK’s 2035 tournament plans. Alongside Wembley, Hampden Park and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, it is thought as-yet unbuilt venues such as Manchester United’s new stadium and Birmingham City’s proposed new 62,000-seater home could both be in contention to host matches, if built in time.

Fifa has also approved a three-pillar strategy for Afghan women’s football, including the establishment of a women’s refugee team, as reported in March.

The three pillars of the plan mean the global governing body will provide “project-specific support for women and girls in Afghanistan”, while taking into account the limitations there, embark on “advocacy and diplomatic engagement with relevant actors” in the Taliban-led country and enhance playing opportunities and support for players outside of the country.

The third pillar includes the establishment of a team of evacuated players of Afghan nationality who will be able to participate in friendlies and tournaments organised by Fifa and will “provide a supportive environment that prioritises player safety and wellbeing”.

However, it is understood the decision has come too late for a team to qualify for the 2027 World Cup, with Afghanistan not entered into the June qualifying campaign for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which will determine World Cup qualification.

The refugee team will be organised for a one-year pilot phase, after which its long-term viability, effectiveness and the potential of the format being used for other refugee groups will be assessed.

Khalida Popal, founder of the Afghanistan women’s national team said: “We are proud to be part of history in helping create Fifa’s first ever refugee football team … but remain hopeful Fifa can amend its statutes to provide official recognition for our players as the Afghanistan women’s national team.”

Andrea Florence, executive director of the Sport & Rights Alliance, said: “This first step from Fifa to create an Afghan women’s refugee team is a testament to the tireless advocacy and persistence of the Afghan women players. Yet it is important to note that this does not fully address the ongoing gender discrimination by the Afghanistan Football Federation as it continues to ban women from playing and the matches of the AWRT will not count toward their official ranking.”

Header image: [Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA]