UK to host 2035 Women’s World Cup
The United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 Women's World Cup
It has been reported via FIFA that the UK bid is the sole valid bidder for the tournament.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland submitted a joint expression of interest in March to hold the World Cup across the home nations.
Under Fifa rotation rules, the tournament must be in Europe or Africa. Straight away, this made the UK bid one of the favourites to win.
The Spainish federation president Rafael Louzan had apparently said last week that they were working on a joint bid alongside Portugal and Morocco.
However, the deadline for expressions of interest passed on Monday and FIFA officials have said the UK's bid is the only one received for 2035, while the United States are set to host the 2031 edition.
Formal bids for the 2035 World Cup must be submitted this winter, with a vote taking place to confirm the hosts in a Fifa congress in 2026.
FIFA have since confirmed that the 2031 Women's World Cup will be a 48-team tournament, up from 32 in 2027.
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Should the UK's bid be confirmed, the 2035 Women's World Cup will be the second time a World Cup has been held in the home nations after the 1966 men's tournament in England.
Whatever happens, this promises to be an incredible showcase for women's football. Football is coming home again.
The brief history of England's failed World Cup bids
England failed to win the right to host the men's World Cups in both 2006 and 2018. In 2022, a proposed UK and Ireland bid for the 2030 tournament was abandoned after it became clear it was futile.
Assuming that this is ratified, the UK can finally look forward to staging a global senior football competition for the first time since 1966.
The hosting of many Euro 2020 games in England and Scotland, and then all of the women's Euros in England in 2022, will have helped restore trust. This is now in addition to the fact that the men's Euros in 2028 is being played across England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Are you already excited for this tournament?
Olivia T is a huge fan and a follower of the women's game, she said: "Everyone will know from the experience of the Euros in 2022 and how big the game is already here. Extending this to the rest of the UK for the World Cup in 2035 is even better.
