FIFA decision
From 2031: Women’s World Cup with 48 teams
09.05.2025 – 9:21 pmReading time: 1 min.
After only two tournaments with 32 teams, the women’s soccer World Cup continues to increase. The World Association already gives details.
FIFA takes the next step in expanding women’s football: From 2031, the world championship of women will be held with 48 national teams. The Council of the World Association decided that at a virtual session.
The World Cup currently plays 32 teams. By increasing the number of participants, 16 more nations will be added in the future – for the first time in the final round 2031. 2027 in Brazil, the tournament will last with 32 teams.
The increase has direct consequences: instead of 64 games, 104 World Cup games will be played in the future. This extends the tournament by a week. The group phase then consists of twelve groups of four.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said it was not just about the additional participants. Rather, the new structure offers more member associations the opportunity to further develop their women’s football programs. The tenders for tournaments 2031 and 2035 were also adjusted accordingly.
Already at the last World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, the field of participants had consisted of 32 teams for the first time. Infantino emphasized that teams from five different continental associations had reached the knockout round. The renewed expansion should now ensure that women’s football is becoming more important worldwide.
For the first round in 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the men played with 48 teams.