The Women’s World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams in time for the 2035 tournament in the United Kingdom, Sky News understands.
The decision was taken during a virtual FIFA Council meeting today.
Sky News first reported last year on plans to enlarge the tournament to match the expansion of the men’s tournament.
It will take effect from 2031 when the Women’s World Cup is due to be staged in the United States.
FIFA still needs to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts.
The 2027 tournament in Brazil will remain at 32 teams.
Image: Chloe Kelly scores for England in the Euro 2022 final against Germany. Pic: Reuters
It means the number of matches will jump from 64 under the 32-team format to 104 – as will be the case at the men’s World Cup in 2026 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
There will be concerns in the women’s game about more mismatches like the 13-0 victory by the U.S. over Thailand at the 2019 Women’s World Cup when there were 24 finalists.
But adding another 12 teams for the Australia-New Zealand tournament in 2023 did not produce a result as one-sided.
The Netherlands did thrash Vietnam 7-0 but the Americans only beat the newcomers 3-0.
The English-led bid was the only remaining contender for the 2035 Women’s World Cup after Spain-Portugal-Morocco did not submit a valid joint entry as planned.
Britain should be able to cope with 104 matches with stadiums across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales set to be used.
England won the Women’s European Championship at Wembley in 2022.
The Football Association’s chief executive Mark Bullingham said in April: “Hosting England’s first FIFA World Cup since 1966, along with our home nations partners, will be very special.”
There are hopes that hosting the tournament at stadiums across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will help grow the popularity of the women’s game in the UK.
England star Chloe Kelly told Sky News last year: “The Euros here was amazing and a World Cup would be absolutely incredible.
“I think it’s everyone’s dream, of course… England fans love football and we’re ready to get behind the team. So I think it’s important that we have many celebratory moments together.”
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