England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales have submitted a joint bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, proposing what would be the largest single-sport event ever staged in the UK. The bid book was published on FIFA's website on Friday, with the four nations positioned as the sole valid bidder for the tournament.
The proposal includes 22 potential host venues across 15 cities, with 63 million people living within two hours of a proposed match venue. The stadiums will be reduced to between 14 and 16 for the final tournament, which would feature 104 matches over 39 days in the expanded 48-team format. If successful, the event would mark the first FIFA World Cup hosted in the UK since 1966.
England's record goalscorer Ellen White described the prospect as «really special», drawing parallels to the 2012 Olympics. «We felt it in the Olympics in 2012, that exposure, that amazing sense of togetherness,» she said. «The whole worldwide captivation was really special. Seeing all the different nations, the cultures, the diversity, the inclusivity, was really special to be involved with. The fact that it's a World Cup [means] it is worldwide and all eyes will be on us and people will want to come and be a part of it.»
The Football Association's CEO Mark Bullingham emphasized the bid's nationwide reach. «Sixty-three million people live within two hours of a match venue that we're proposing, so we think it brings together the whole country and some of the most recognisable cities and stadia that we have,» he said.
The proposal includes several stadiums yet to be built, including potential new venues for Birmingham City, Manchester United, and Chelsea. Bullingham explained this forward-looking approach: «We've done that really consciously to make a confident statement that in 10 years these stadiums will be among the best in the world.»
Growing enthusiasm
The bid reflects a dramatic shift in attitudes toward women's football. For the 2022 Women's Euros, organizers «really had to persuade some cities and stadia to come in,» Bullingham noted. «This time they've been really keen to be a part of it, and that's a sign of the women's game's growth.»
The proposed stadiums span from Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in Wales to Belfast's Windsor Park in Northern Ireland. London would feature five potential venues, including Wembley Stadium. The tournament is projected to attract 3.5 billion global television viewers and offer 4.5 million tickets.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the bid, stating: «The Lionesses' success has inspired girls across our country, and we'll build on that momentum by welcoming millions of football fans from around the world to a tournament that will benefit communities and businesses in host cities up and down the UK.»
FIFA will vote on the host nation on April 30, 2026, at its Congress in Vancouver. The final selection of match venues is expected around 2030.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
