FIFA confirmed on Friday that the Women’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams in 2031, the year the United States is expected to host the tournament.
The move aligns the women’s competition with the men’s World Cup. FIFA is aiming to mirror the structure of the men’s tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time next year, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The decision comes a month after FIFA announced it had only one candidate bidding for each of the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments: the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively. Speculation is rife that FIFA will confirm these two hosts next year.
Brazil is slated to host a 32-team Women’s World Cup in 2027, serving as a bridge between the current format and the expanded version.
FIFA argues that the larger tournament, featuring 104 matches and 48 teams, “will significantly increase representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s soccer worldwide.” The organization believes expansion will boost the game’s popularity and development on a global scale.
From 16 to 48 teams: A rapid evolution
The Women’s World Cup has grown rapidly in recent years. As recently as the 2011 edition in Germany, the tournament featured only 16 teams. That number increased to 24 in both 2015 (Canada) and 2019 (France), before expanding to 32 for the 2023 edition, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The 2023 tournament served as a strong counter-argument to fears that the tournament had grown too quickly. The expanded field would result in too many weak teams, leading to lopsided results.
While previous tournaments saw large scorelines, such as the USWNT‘s 13-0 victory over Thailand in 2019, the largest margin of victory in 2023 was the Netherlands’ 7-0 win against Vietnam.
Gianni Infantino stated, in a press release that, the tournament “established a new standard for global competitiveness.” “Teams from all confederations won at least one match, and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage.”
FIFPRO Calls for Inclusive Decision-Making
FIFPRO, the global players’ union, praised the expansion plan while calling for “inclusive decision-making and cooperative planning”.
“It is crucial that the global development of women’s competitions goes hand-in-hand with the improvement of working conditions and the advancement of players, as well as development further down the pyramid,” said the Netherlands-based union. “This is the only path towards true sustainability, expansion and progress.”
Protecting Players and Coaches
In recent years, FIFA has updated and improved contractual protections for players and coaches during pregnancy and after childbirth. These changes underscore FIFA’s commitment to supporting women in soccer and promoting a more equitable and inclusive environment. The expanded Women’s World Cup offers more opportunities. It is essential for FIFA to protect players’ rights.
The expansion of the Women’s World Cup to 48 teams marks a significant milestone in the growth of the women’s game. As the tournament continues to evolve, FIFA must prioritize inclusivity, fair competition, and player welfare to ensure its long-term success and sustainability.
