The Women’s World Cup will grow from 32 to 48 teams starting with the 2031 tournament, FIFA announced on Friday.
The decision was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, citing the rapid growth and global reach of women’s football. The new format will mirror the men’s tournament, featuring 12 groups and expanding the total number of matches from 64 to 104. The competition will also be extended by one week.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the move follows the success of the 2023 edition held in Australia and New Zealand, which Spain won. He highlighted the 2023 tournament’s record-breaking competitiveness, with teams from all confederations winning at least one game and five reaching the knockout stages.
“This isn’t just about adding more teams,” Infantino said. “It’s about giving more nations the opportunity to grow their women’s football programs and maintaining momentum globally.”
The 2027 Women’s World Cup, set to take place in Brazil, will remain at 32 teams. The host for 2031 has not been officially confirmed, though the United States is the sole candidate. The UK is bidding to host the 2035 edition.
Infantino previously stated that only one valid bid was received for both the 2031 and 2035 tournaments.
In related news, the FIFA Council also introduced stricter anti-racism policies, including heavier fines. Federations must now align their disciplinary codes with FIFA’s standards. The global body reserves the right to escalate inadequate national sanctions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), similar to its policy on doping violations.
Additionally, the Council approved a new initiative to support Afghan women footballers, including the formation of the Afghan Women’s Refugee Team (AWRT). “FIFA is committed to giving every girl the opportunity to play football,” Infantino stated.
Preparations are underway for the 75th FIFA Congress, scheduled for May 15 in Asunción, Paraguay.
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