Women's World Cup expansion to 48-teams receive FIFA approval

The 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is expected to be held in the United States, is set to feature 48 teams for the first time in the competition’s history, per reports.

The reports reveal that the FIFA Council has unanimously approved the Women’s World Cup expansion to 48 teams ahead of the 2031 tournament.

This means the tournament will feature 12 groups, increasing the matches from 64 to 104 games to provide an extensive view and entertainment for fans.

FIFA announced Friday its decision to increase the number of countries due to the recent changes in the men’s tournament, which has been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.

The changes are set to take place in the 2031 tournament with the US said to be the sole bidder for Women’s elite competition.

Megan Rapinoe of the USA lifts the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy following her team’s victory in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between the United States of America and the Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019, in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

FIFA president Infantino confirmed the US as the host for the 2031 tournament while the UK will host the 2035 competition, in a statement delivered on Thursday, 3 April.

The expansion almost doubles the number of games played and extends the event by an extra week.

The tournament will likely be a significant step for the United States, which is almost guaranteed to host in 2031.

The U.S. is the only acknowledged bidder for 2031, and will likely have their bid formalised in 2026 and share hosting duties Mexico.

This only adds to a historic run of the beautiful game in the US. A final confirmation would see the US being the center of almost all sporting activities between 2026 and 2034.

It would form part of a sporting line-up that sees the US host the men’s World Cup in 2026, the Olympic Games in 2028, and the Olympic Winter Games in 2034.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino backed the move.

“This is not just about having 16 more teams playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general by ensuring that more FIFA Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures from a holistic point of view,” he said in a statement.

Despite the US receiving the green light to host the festival in 2031, Brazil has the nod to host the next women’s World Cup in 2027, the last to be contested between 32 teams before the tournament expands to 48 teams four years later.