FIFA aims to increase the number of teams in the women’s tournament from 32 to 48, aligning it with the men’s World Cup, which will feature 48 teams for the first time next year when the U.S. co-hosts with Canada and Mexico. This decision comes just a month after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that there was only one candidate for each of the 2031 and 2035 women’s tournaments: the U.S. and the United Kingdom, respectively.
FIFA is anticipated to announce the two host nations next year. Brazil is set to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will feature 32 teams. FIFA stated that the expanded tournament, now comprising 48 teams and 104 matches, “will significantly enhance representation, providing more nations and players with access to elite competition and fostering investment in women’s football globally.” The Women’s World Cup had only 16 teams in the 2011 edition held in Germany, increased to 24 teams for the subsequent tournaments in Canada and France, and reached 32 teams for the first time in 2023, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The 2023 edition dispelled worries that the tournament had expanded too quickly, resulting in an excess of mismatched teams and one-sided outcomes. In 2019, the defending champion U.S. team defeated Thailand 13-0 in their first group-stage match. However, in 2023, the largest margin of victory was the Netherlands' 7-0 win over Thailand. Infantino stated on Friday that the tournament "set a new standard for global competitiveness," noting that "teams from all confederations won at least one game, and teams from five confederations advanced to the knockout stage."
The anticipated expansion plan received a positive response from FIFPRO, the global players' union, which emphasized the need for “inclusive decision-making and collaborative planning.” The union, based in the Netherlands, stated, “It is essential that the global growth of women’s competitions aligns with enhanced labor conditions and the advancement of players, as well as development at all levels.” They asserted, “This is the only way to achieve genuine sustainability, expansion, and progress.” In recent years, FIFA has made strides in enhancing contractual protections for players and coaches during pregnancy and postpartum.
