48 Teams, Four Host Nations: 2031 Women's World Cup Set for a Historic Expansion

FIFA has given the green light to the joint bids for the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups, clearing the way for its member associations to decide the hosts at an Extraordinary Congress on November 23.

In its evaluation reports released on Wednesday, FIFA confirmed that both proposals had met the minimum hosting requirements, bringing the two bids a step closer to securing the prestigious tournament.

The 2031 edition has a joint bid from the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica, while England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have come together to host the 2035 tournament under the theme 'All Together'.

The 2031 tournament will mark a major milestone for women's football, with the competition expanding from 32 to 48 teams. Organisers expect the event to attract around 4.5 million fans.

The four-nation bid has proposed 20 stadiums across 20 venues, including 14 in the US, four in Mexico and one each in Costa Rica and Jamaica. Four stadiums are being considered for the final: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, AT&T Stadium near Dallas, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

FIFA noted that several proposed venues currently have artificial surfaces and would need natural grass for the tournament. It also highlighted commitments from US government agencies on immigration, visas, work permits and security, while noting that some arrangements would require further coordination.

The 2035 UK-led bid features 15 host cities and 19 stadiums, including 14 in England, two in Northern Ireland, one in Scotland and two in Wales. Wembley Stadium in London has been proposed as the venue for the final. The bid draws on the region's experience of hosting major football events, including UEFA Women's Euro 2022 and the upcoming UEFA Euro 2028.

Meanwhile, FIFA announced that the draw for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil will take place in Rio de Janeiro on December 11. The 32 participating teams will be divided into four pots of eight.

The top four ranked teams will be kept apart until the later stages, provided they finish at the top of their respective groups. Based on the current rankings, defending champions Spain lead the list, followed by the United States, Germany and England.