Talks have begun over expanding the Women’s World Cup to 48 teams, in a move that could provide a major boost to a planned British bid for the tournament.
Telegraph Sports has learned that leading figures in world football have discussed matching the scale of the premier men’s football event as early as 2031.
It has been just over four months since the United States and Mexico announced their joint bid for the World Cup, while simultaneously withdrawing from the race to host the 2027 tournament. In May, the tournament was awarded to Brazil.
The U.S. and Mexican soccer associations announced that their bids would call for “equal investment” as that for the men’s tournament, which would necessitate an expansion from 32 to 48 teams.
Competing bids, including one from the United Kingdom, may be required to meet that commitment if FIFA agrees to such a change.
Like the US, which will host the first 48-team men’s World Cup in 2026 along with Canada and Mexico, the UK is one of the few countries that currently has the infrastructure to allow for a full-scale tournament.
UK Sport confirmed in March that bringing football back by 2031, 2035 or 2039 was one of the targets of UK Sport – and therefore the then government – for the next 15 years.
If the World Cup is expanded to 48 teams, it is likely that future editions will have the same number, regardless of where they are held.
Those pushing for such an increase in 2031 reportedly want FIFA to start planning now so that the additional countries are competitive in time.
It was less than a year ago that the Women’s World Cup first featured 32 teams, after the tournament was expanded from 24 participants.
In Australia and New Zealand, eight countries were added to the group stage and including another 16 countries just three editions later could be a huge task.
FIFA declined to comment, but its president, Gianni Infantino, said after the 2027 tournament was awarded: “Let me congratulate Brazil once again for hosting the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. And in the euphoria of the discussion, someone said to me: ‘Well, we have to think about the future – not about ’27, but about the future – to also increase the number of teams for the Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48, as we did for the men. More participants, more unity, more people happy. Well, let’s see, let’s see.'”
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