FIFA is about to award the next World Cup, but this time there is competition: the women’s tournament in 2031 is in demand by many countries.
For men, FIFA has clarity until 2034 after the 2030 tournaments were awarded to six countries and the 2034 tournaments to Saudi Arabia in a much-discussed process with the approval of the DFB.
The next major tournament is the 2031 Women’s World Cup. But there is little clarity about the award process. FIFA had announced that it would decide on the application regulations in the second quarter of 2024. But these have not yet been published. The tournament should be awarded in the second quarter of 2025, then the FIFA Congress will take place in Paraguay’s capital Asuncion. FIFA did not initially respond to a query about this.
The original plan calls for the 2031 World Cup to be awarded in the second quarter of 2024.
Numerous possible applications
There are no official applications yet due to the lack of application regulations. But there are numerous interested parties:
- England: The English association withdrew from the race for the 2030 Men’s World Cup and successfully applied for the 2028 Men’s European Championship together with the other British associations and Ireland. The association has now announced that it also wants to have the World Cup in 2031 – possibly also in association with Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. England hosted the 1966 Men’s World Cup and the 2022 Women’s European Championship.
- Morocco: In October 2023, Marroko’s association registered interest. The country’s women’s team played in a World Cup finals for the first time in 2023 after many failed attempts in qualifying and promptly reached the round of 16. In 2030, Morocco will be one of five hosts at the Men’s World Cup.
- South Africa: When the 2027 World Cup was awarded, South Africa withdrew from the current race when everything came down to eventual winners Brazil. At the same time, the association announced that it was considering the 2031 World Cup. Possibly helpful: There has never been a Women’s World Cup in Africa. South Africa hosted the first men’s World Cup in Africa in 2010.
- USA and Mexico: Like South Africa, the USA and Mexico withdrew their application for 2027 due to the hopelessness and said they would make a new attempt in 2031. The USA hosted the 1999 and 2003 World Cup tournaments. For men, both countries hosted the tournaments in 1970 and 1986 and 1994, respectively, and the USA and Mexico are co-hosting the 2026 Men’s World Cup together with Canada.
- Japan: The Japanese association expressed interest. Japan has not yet hosted a women’s World Cup, but has hosted parts of the 2002 men’s World Cup together with South Korea. Japan’s new association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto visited FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Paris and said Japan was interested in the 2031 World Cup. In 2011, Japan became world champions in Germany.
- China: The Chinese association had published a strategy to promote women’s football. Part of this strategy should be a bid for the 2031 World Cup. China hosted the first World Cup in 1991 and could host again exactly 40 years later. The 2007 World Cup tournament also took place in China.
In 2007, Germany won the World Cup in China.
Will the women’s tournament also be expanded to 48 teams?
One reason for the lack of publication of the application regulations could be that an expansion of the tournament is being considered.
The men’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams with 104 games in 2026. The Women’s World Cup, which was only expanded from 24 to 32 teams in 2023, could follow. The British broadcaster “Sky” reported in September that there were corresponding considerations in FIFA. FIFA has not yet commented on this. As things stand, the 2027 World Cup in Brazil will be played with 32 teams.
| Year | teams | country | Winners |
|---|---|---|---|
1991 | 12 | China | USA |
1995 | 12 | Sweden | Norway |
1999 | 16 | USA | USA |
2003 | 16 | USA | Germany |
2007 | 16 | China | Germany |
2011 | 16 | Germany | Japan |
2015 | 24 | Canada | USA |
2019 | 24 | France | USA |
2023 | 32 | Austr./New Zealand | Spain |
2027 | 32 | Brazil | ? |
2031 | ? | ? | ? |
DFB lost the 2027 World Cup and is hoping for the 2029 European Championship
The DFB applied for the 2027 World Cup together with the Netherlands and Belgium. However, in the vote at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok in April, the bid lost to Brazil 78:119. Brazil’s bid was already the favorite in advance for several reasons.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announces the winner: Brazil
Now the DFB wants to host the 2029 European Championship alone. There is competition here too: Italy, Portugal, Poland as well as Denmark and Sweden also want the tournament in a joint application. The host is expected to be announced by the UEFA Executive Committee in December 2025.
According to the DFB, 17 German cities have registered for the selection process to host games at a possible tournament in Germany:
- Berlin
- Bremen
- Dortmund
- Dusseldorf
- Eat
- Frankfurt
- Freiburg
- Gelsenkirchen
- Hamburg (Volksparkstadion)
- Hanover
- Cologne
- Leipzig
- Mainz
- Munich
- Rostock
- Stuttgart
- Wolfsburg