The FIFA Women`s World Cup is slated for a major expansion ahead of its 2031 edition, increasing the number of participating nations from 32 to 48. This move aligns the women`s tournament with the Men`s World Cup, which is also growing to 48 teams for the 2026 competition hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The decision follows the recent expansion of the Women`s World Cup from 24 to 32 teams, which was implemented for the 2023 event held in Australia and New Zealand.
In a statement, FIFA announced, “After consulting with confederations and stakeholders, and recognizing the remarkable advancements made in women`s football globally, the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to expand the FIFA Women`s World Cup from 32 to 48 participating teams, effective from the 2031 edition.” The decision, made during a virtual meeting, aims to significantly increase global representation, providing more countries and athletes with opportunities to compete at the highest level and accelerating investment in women`s football worldwide.
The planned 48-team format for the FIFA Women`s World Cup will feature 12 groups, resulting in a total of 104 matches, an increase from the current 64. This will also extend the duration of the tournament by approximately one week. Consequently, the hosting requirements for both the 2031 and 2035 editions have been adjusted to accommodate this larger scale.
Given the ongoing improvements in the women`s game, the need for expansion has been evident, especially since the tournament previously included only 24 teams before moving to 32. While further expansion beyond 48 has been discussed for the men`s World Cup, it remains a contentious topic due to increasing demands on players globally.
Spain will defend their Women`s World Cup title at the upcoming tournament, which will feature 32 teams. Hosted by Brazil in 2027, the competition is scheduled to run from June 24 to July 25. Under the leadership of Emma Hayes, the United States women`s national team will be looking for an improved performance after their round of 16 exit via a penalty shootout loss to Sweden in the 2023 World Cup. While the increased number of teams may intensify overall competition for the title, it is expected to offer the USWNT a potentially easier path to win their group, which could lead to more favorable knockout stage matchups.
FIFA Updates Disciplinary Code to Combat Racism
Alongside the expansion announcements, the FIFA council also reported revisions to its disciplinary code aimed at tackling racism. These updates introduce new measures designed to address discriminatory behavior both on and off the field. Stronger sanctions for racist incidents are included, such as increased fines and the potential forfeiture of matches. The established three-step procedure for stopping matches due to anti-LGBTQ chants has also been updated to encompass racist behavior. Member associations are required to adopt these revised codes, and FIFA reserves the right to appeal cases involving racist abuse before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
FIFA President Gianni Infantino commented on the changes, stating, “The revised Disciplinary Code represents a significant step forward in FIFA`s commitment to strengthen its regulatory framework for prosecuting and sanctioning discrimination and racist abuse, in collaboration with our 211 FIFA Member Associations.”
Adrian Whitmore