FIFA has finally and officially ratified the expansion of the Women’s World Cup to 48 teams. This exciting new development will start in the 2031 edition, which the United States will be hosting. This decision marks a historic breakthrough in the world of women’s football. That’s on the heels of an overall positive trend in participation and competitiveness from other countries within the tournament. The inaugural 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand featured 32 teams for the first time. In comparison, the 2019 tournament in France had just 24 teams.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted in Brazil, will continue with the 32-team format. The 2031 tournament will feature a thrilling new format of 12 groups. This amendment will increase total number of matches from 64 to 104 and lengthen the tournament by an additional week.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
This is a major step towards development, growth and inclusiveness of women’s football and FIFA made the right decision with this expansion of the tournament. Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “This is not just about having 16 more teams playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup but taking the next steps in relation to the women’s game in general.” He pointed out that the increase provides an opportunity for even more FIFA member associations to build their women’s football infrastructures from the ground up.
Increased global competitiveness as demonstrated by the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Every confederation won at least one match and five teams reached the knockout phase. As Infantino reflected, “The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023… raised the bar for worldwide competitiveness.” This growth is just the tip of the iceberg for an inclusive, innovative and competitive environment in women’s sports.
Implications for Players and Stakeholders
The purpose of the expansion is to build more inclusive pathways to participation. It does so while igniting some crucial discussions on how best to support the players. FIFPRO, the global representative of professional football players, stressed that inclusive decision-making and cooperative planning are essential for ensuring player welfare. They added, “Sustaining player support requires decision-making that is inclusive and cooperative planning that respects all stakeholders.”
FIFPRO advocated for more playing space. As examples, they argued that any expansion focus on improving labor conditions and player development should accompany this expansion in size and scope. Through it all, they made sure to stress the importance of advancing the women’s game globally. Labor rights and player development should move hand in hand.
The Path Ahead
In fact, FIFA hasn’t even confirmed the host for the 2035 Women’s World Cup yet. Right now the United Kingdom is the sole bidder. FIFA is fully committed to creating more opportunities for women’s football to grow. This sponsorship fits perfectly with their overall mission to advocate for and build the women’s sports movement worldwide.
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