UK Poised to Host 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup as sole bidder

The United Kingdom appears set to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup after FIFA President Gianni Infantino described its joint proposal as the “one valid bid” for the tournament.

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales announced last month their intention to submit a unified bid to host the finals. This would mark the first FIFA World Cup on UK soil since England hosted and won the men’s tournament in 1966.

“We are honoured to be the sole bidder for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said in a statement. “Hosting the first FIFA World Cup since 1966 with our home nations partners will be very special. The hard work starts now, to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year.”

Alongside this development, the United States, potentially with other CONCACAF nations, is positioned to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup as the only bidder for that edition. Infantino also announced that the tournament will expand from 32 teams to 48 starting with the 2031 competition, matching the format of the men’s event.

“We received one bid for 2031 and one bid — one valid bid I should add — for 2035,” Infantino stated at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade. “The 2035 bid is from Europe, from the home nations.”

Member associations must formally submit their bids to FIFA in the last quarter of this year, with final host selections expected during the 76th FIFA Congress in the second quarter of 2025.

There had been speculation that Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, who are jointly hosting the 2030 men’s World Cup, might launch a competing bid for 2035 before Infantino’s statement indicated the UK had the only valid proposal.

England women’s manager Sarina Wiegman welcomed the prospect, saying: “It’s the biggest female event we have in the world, that’s so exciting. We know with the experience of the Euros how big the game is already here, and what that momentum did here in the country, but also worldwide.”

The expansion to 48 teams will further develop women’s football, Wiegman added: “It will grow the game again in different countries, because different countries have opportunities to come, because countries are at different stages of their development. So it will help empower women in football, women in sport and women in society.”

Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup with 32 teams before the tournament’s expansion.