UK & Ireland Launch Joint Bid to Host 2035 Women’s World Cup
The United Kingdom and Ireland have formally submitted a joint bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, unveiling a plan encompassing 15 cities and 22 stadiums. The bid, published Friday on FIFA’s website, aims to capitalize on the momentum generated by the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, held in England, and further accelerate the growth of women’s football across the nations.
The aspiring proposal comes as the UK and Ireland are the sole bidders for the 2035 tournament, while a joint bid from the United States, Mexico, Jamaica, and Costa Rica is the only contender for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Brazil is already confirmed as the host nation for the 2027 edition.
The bid highlights the potential to build on the success of Euro 2022, where England reached the final and sparked important public interest in the women’s game. Keira Walsh, a member of the England Euro 2022 squad, emphasized the impact of playing in front of a home crowd, stating, ”The possibility we had to play in front of a home crowd was astounding.I think for the younger generation in the UK to have that opportunity would be really special. And it’s a great opportunity to inspire even more young girls and boys to watch women’s football and get involved.”
The bid is a collaborative effort between The FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA, and FA of Wales. A vote on the hosts for both the 2031 and 2035 World Cups will take place at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30, 2026. The full bid book is available on FIFA’s digital hub: https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/6fe423dac2adbb07/original/UK2035_Bid-Book-620207.pdf.
