By Victor Kanayo
The Federation of Internationale Football Association (FIFA) Council has confirmed a decision to expand the number of participating teams in the senior Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48, starting with the 2031 edition
The decision to expand the participating teams was taken after consultation with the confederations and other stakeholders, and given the remarkable recent strides made by women’s football across the world.
This was disclosed via a statement.
The statement reads, “The decision, taken at a meeting held virtually, will significantly broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women’s football worldwide.
“The 48-team FIFA Women’s World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week. The hosting requirements for the 2031 and 2035 editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been adapted accordingly.
“FIFA will further engage with the stakeholders involved in the consultation process to address their feedback.”
