FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade that the United States will host the 2031 Women’s World Cup. The USA was the lone bidder for the tournament; they previously hosted the 1999 and 2003 Women’s World Cups.
ESPN’s Emily Keogh reported on Thursdayy that the United Kingdom will host the tournament in 2035 thanks to a joint bid from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom has never hosted a Women’s World Cup.
Infantino said: “As part of the bidding process, we received one bid for ’31 and one bid, valid bid, I should add for ’35. The ’31 bid is from the United States of America and potentially some other Concacaf members together, and the ’36 bid is from Europe from the Home Nations so the path is there for the Women’s World Cup to be taking place in ’31 and ’35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women’s football movement.“. Infantino also told reporters that FIFA wants to expand the Women’s World Cup field to 48 teams from 32.
English Football Association president Mark Bullingham said in a news release: “As part of the bidding process, we received one bid for ’31 and one bid, valid bid, I should add for ’35. The ’31 bid is from the United States of America and potentially some other Concacaf members together, and the ’36 bid is from Europe from the Home Nations so the path is there for the Women’s World Cup to be taking place in ’31 and ’35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women’s football movement. We are honored to be the sole bidder for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035. Hosting England’s first FIFA World Cup since 1966, along 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.”
U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation announced last April they withdrew a joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup to focus on a 2031 bid. That tournament will be held in Brazil. Mexico is expected to be a joint host for the 2031 tournament.
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