FIFA has unanimously approved an expansion of the FIFA Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, beginning with the 2031 tournament.
The decision, made during a virtual FIFA Council meeting, aims to boost global participation, providing more countries and players with the opportunity to compete at the highest level and driving further investment in women’s football worldwide.
The revamped format will feature 12 groups, increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament duration by one week.
As a result, hosting requirements for the 2031 and 2035 editions have been adjusted to accommodate the expanded format.
