FIFA approves expansion of Women's World Cup to 48 teams
The FIFA Council has approved a proposal to expand the Women's World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, starting with the 2031 tournament in the United States.
This decision brings the women's tournament in line with the men's equivalent, which will feature 48 nations in its 2026 edition in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Key details of the expansion:
Tournament Format: The expanded format is set to debut in the 2031 Women's World Cup, which the United States will host.
Previous Expansion: The Women's World Cup was previously increased from 24 teams to 32 in 2019, with the change taking effect for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Upcoming tournaments:
- 2027 Women's World Cup: Brazil will host the 32-team tournament from June 24 to July 25.
- 2031 and 2035 Bidding Process: The U.S. and the United Kingdom are the sole bidders for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups, respectively, although there were initial plans for a joint U.S.-Mexico bid for 2031.
