The World’s Football Governing Body, International Federation of Football Association ( FIFA), has expanded Women’s World Cup from its initial 32 team format to 48 teams as from 2031 edition of the tournament which will take place in the United States of America ( USA).
The decision to expand the team format was reached during a Virtual FIFA Council Meeting on Friday after a wide consultations with Soccer Confederations and other stakeholders. It followed giant strides made in Women’s Football across the World.
As a result of the expansion of the participating teams at the global stage, the Women’s World Cup will now adopt a 12 group format with an additional 40 matches, up from 64 to 104 matches that will extend the World Cup by a week.
During the FIFA World Cup in 2015, the number of participating teams was increase to 24 from 16 and was also increased to 32 from 24 in 2023 when the FIFA Women’s World Cup was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand for the first time in the history of the competition.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino disclosed that the changes would give more nations the benefit from the tournament to develop their women’s football structures. He added “This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women’s football globally.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25 and remain at 32 team format. It means the number of matches will jump from 64 matches under 32 team format to 104 as will be the case at the men’s World Cup in 2026 to be played in the United States of America.
Since the tournament started in 1991 only Eight Countries have hosted the Women’s World Cup. China and United States of America have each hosted the tournament twice, while Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden have each hosted it once.
Spain’s Women National Football Team are currently the Cup Holders after they won the competition in 2023. Co – Hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The first to be jointly hosted in the history of the Competition since it started in 1991.
