FIFA Confirms UK as the Only Bid for 2035 Women’s World Cup

The United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as it remains the only valid bid for the tournament, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland submitted a joint bid in March, aiming to bring the prestigious tournament to the home nations.

UK’s Bid Secures Strong Position Amid FIFA Rotation Rules

Under FIFA’s tournament rotation policy, the 2035 Women’s World Cup must be hosted in either Europe or Africa. While Spain’s football federation previously hinted at a potential joint bid with Portugal and Morocco, FIFA has confirmed that the UK remains the only official bidder following the submission deadline on Monday.

At a UEFA Congress in Belgrade, Infantino stated:

“Today I can confirm that we received one bid for 2031 and one valid bid for 2035. The 2031 bid is from the United States and potentially other Concacaf nations, while the 2035 bid comes from Europe and the home nations.”

UK’s Historic Opportunity to Boost Women’s Football

If confirmed, this would mark the first time the Women’s World Cup is held in the UK and the second time a FIFA World Cup has taken place in the region, following England’s hosting of the 1966 Men’s World Cup.

Mark Bullingham, CEO of the Football Association (FA), expressed excitement over the bid’s progress:

“We are honored to be the sole bidder for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035. The hard work starts now to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year.”

Next Steps: FIFA’s Decision Timeline

• Winter 2025: Formal bid submissions required
• 2026: FIFA Congress to vote on the final host nation

In addition, FIFA has confirmed an expanded 48-team tournament format for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, an increase from 32 teams in 2027, highlighting the growing global impact of women’s football.

With the UK in pole position to host in 2035, this could be a game-changing moment for the future of the sport in the region.

Stay tuned for more updates on the UK’s 2035 Women’s World Cup bid!