UK Launches Joint Bid to Host 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup
The football associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have jointly submitted a bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035, and the UK has been confirmed as the sole bidder. If accomplished,this would mark the largest single-sport event ever held in the UK and the first FIFA World Cup of any kind hosted in the nation sence 1966.
the bid proposes utilizing 22 stadiums across 16 host cities – 16 in England,three in Wales,two in Scotland,and one in Northern Ireland. A key strength of the bid is accessibility, with 63 million people residing within a two-hour radius of a proposed venue. The planned tournament format includes 48 teams competing in 104 matches over 39 days.
This bid builds on the UK’s growing prominence in women’s football,evidenced by record attendance figures in the Women’s Super League and increasing domestic broadcast investment. It also follows the successful joint bid with Ireland to host UEFA EURO 2028 for the men’s game, demonstrating a continued commitment to securing major football events.
The bid details plans for 48 team base camps,82 training venues,and 32 FIFA Fan festival locations. Several stadiums are already undergoing or scheduled for redevelopment to meet FIFA’s technical standards, including Villa Park, the American Express Stadium, Etihad Stadium, Elland Road, Selhurst Park, The City Ground, and Windsor Park’s Clearer Twist National Stadium. Wrexham AFC’s racecourse Ground is also undergoing expansion, with further improvements planned before 2035. The final stadium option for Chelsea is contingent on the outcome of ongoing consultations.
Beyond the tournament itself, the bid emphasizes a legacy of increased participation, workforce growth, and commercial growth within the women’s game. This includes commitments to broaden access to football, enhance opportunities for women in leadership positions, and expand the sport’s revenue streams.
The proposed host cities are Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sunderland, Trafford, and Wrexham.
In a joint statement, the CEOs of the four football associations stated the tournament would be a “huge privilege” and offer 4.5 million tickets to fans. They highlighted the potential to “turbo charge” the women’s and girls’ game both domestically and globally,and emphasized a commitment to a lasting legacy both leading up to and following the 2035 event.