The United Kingdom has been officially confirmed as the host for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, after FIFA president Gianni Infantino revealed it was the only “valid” applicant for the tournament.
England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland had jointly expressed their interest in staging the prestigious event, submitting a formal bid earlier this year. BBC Sports reported Thursday that FIFA’s rotation policy required the 2035 tournament to be hosted in either Europe or Africa, paving the way for the UK’s bid.
Last week, Rafael Louzan, president of Spain’s football federation, hinted at a possible joint bid from Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, but no formal application was submitted before the deadline.
With the window for expressions of interest now closed, Infantino confirmed that the UK’s proposal was the only valid bid for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, while the United States has secured hosting rights for the 2031 edition.
“Today, I can confirm that we have received one bid for 2031 and one valid bid for 2035 as part of the bidding process,” Infantino announced at a UEFA congress in Belgrade. “The bid for 2031 is from the United States, potentially alongside other Concacaf members, while the 2035 bid is from Europe and the home nations.”
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Infantino emphasized the significance of these bids, calling them a major step in advancing the global development of women’s football. “This opens up opportunities for the Women’s World Cup to be held in outstanding footballing nations in 2031 and 2035, further growing the game,” he added.
Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the Football Association (FA), expressed pride in the UK’s position as the only contender. “We are proud to be the sole bidder for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035,” he said. “The real work begins now to submit the best possible bid by the end of the year.”
Formal proposals for the 2035 tournament must be submitted this winter, with FIFA set to make a final decision at its 2026 congress.
Meanwhile, Infantino also announced that the 2031 Women’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams, up from 32 in the upcoming 2027 edition. If the UK’s bid is approved, the 2035 tournament will mark the second time a World Cup is held in the home nations, following England’s historic hosting of the men’s event in 1966.
With anticipation building, the UK is now preparing to make history once again on the world’s biggest football stage.
