Joint bids for the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cup tournaments have met hosting requirements and will be put up for a vote by FIFA’s members later this month.
The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica submitted the lone bid for the 2031 tournament, while England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland submitted a joint proposal for the 2035 edition. FIFA’s evaluation reports released Wednesday determined both proposals met minimum requirements and will be voted on during the Extraordinary FIFA Congress on Nov. 23.
The 2031 tournament will expand the field from 32 to 48 teams. The evaluation report said that the bid has a strong foundation following the United States’ joint hosting of the men’s World Cup with Mexico and Canada, alongside the 2025 Club World Cup.
Evaluators scored the 2031 proposal 4.4 out of 5, with the tournament expected to draw 4.5 million fans, ijr.com reported. The bid includes 20 proposed stadiums across the four nations, featuring 14 venues in the United States, four in Mexico, one in Jamaica, and one in Costa Rica.
Venues Proposed for the 2031 Tournament
Most venues in the 2031 proposal already exist, though a new RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., has yet to be built. Four stadiums are under consideration to host the final match: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, AT&T Stadium outside Dallas, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Seven proposed U.S. stadiums and one venue in Mexico feature artificial surfaces that require outfitting with natural grass for tournament matches. U.S. government agencies also sent supporting letters committing to requirements for immigration, visas, work permits, and security.
"Accordingly, while certain commitments require further engagement, there is a sound basis for confidence that continued dialogue and collaboration with the relevant government agencies should support the successful organization and delivery of the tournament, should the bid be successful," FIFA stated.
UK Bid Structure for 2035
The 2035 bid from the four British associations received a score of 4.3 out of 5 and adopted the theme "All Together," ijr.com reported. The proposal builds on the host nations’ shared experience hosting major international events, including the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and the upcoming UEFA Euro 2028.
The 2035 plan outlines 19 stadiums across 15 host cities. The proposal includes 14 venues in England, two in Ireland, one in Scotland, and two in Wales, with Wembley Stadium in London designated for the final match.
In addition to reviewing the long-range bids, FIFA announced that the draw process for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil will take place on Dec. 11 in Rio de Janeiro. That tournament precedes the expanded events, with Brazil set to stage the 2027 tournament.
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