The FIFA Council has unanimously approved the expansion of the Women's competition from 32 to 48 teams, starting with the 2031 edition. The United States are the only bidders to host the tournament, and the decision will be ratified in 2026 unless another is submitted in time.
In 2027, the Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil and will still feature 32 teams. This expansion will bring the women’s tournament into line with the men’s tournamnet, which will also have 48 teams from 2026 and will be hosted by the three CONCACAF countries: the united States, Mexico and Canada. The aim is to spread the cost and infrastructure demands of organising such a momentous event, second only to the Olympic Games in size and cost.
With 48 teams, the format will change to 12 groups, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by a week. Some critics, including club owners and players, are concerned about the increased risk of injury and the longer time players will spend in training camps. On the other hand, fans will have more opportunities to enjoy the spectacle.
The Women's World Cup expanded to 16 teams in 1999, 24 in 2015 and 32 in the 2023 edition, which was won by Spain. "This is not just about having 16 more teams at the FIFA Women's World Cup, but about taking the next steps in women's football in general by ensuring that more FIFA member associations have the opportunity to benefit from the tournament to develop their women's football structures from a holistic point of view," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.
"The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 will set a new benchmark for global competitiveness. This decision ensures that we maintain the momentum for the growth of women's football around the world", he said.
JT Batson, CEO of the US Soccer Federation, said last month that he strongly supported the expansion. "We enthusiastically support the 48-team proposal. We think it would be incredible for the growth of women's soccer," he said, according to ESPN.
