Women's World Cup to expand to 48 teams from 2031
The Fifa Council voted unanimously for the changes that will be in place for 2035 edition, due to be hosted in the United Kingdom.
As a result of the increase in teams, the competition will adopt a 12-group format with an additional 40 matches, up from 64 to 104, that will extend the tournament by a week.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the changes would give more nations to "the chance to 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."
England reached the final of the most recent Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 before losing to Spain.
The Lionesses, along with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, are set to have a chance to compete on home soil in 2035 with the UK seen as the only "valid" bidder for the tournament.
None of the home nations have lifted the trophy since its inception in 1991.
Players' union Fifpro welcomed the expansion "in principle" but called for a number of issues in the women's game to be addressed.
"[The World Cup expansion] reflects the global growth of the women's game," Fifpro said.
"However, the support of players depends on inclusive decision-making and cooperative planning that respects all stakeholders.
"It is critical that the global development of women's competitions goes hand in hand with improved labour conditions and the advancement of players, as well as development further down the pyramid.
"This is the only path to true sustainability, expansion, and progress."
Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page
UK set to host 2035 Women's World Cup as only 'valid' bid
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
A La Liga game in Miami is a grim prospect, but it's not FIFA's job to stop it
Should FIFA, football's global governing body, allow domestic matches to be played overseas? What appears a simple question is actually fairly complex. Many football fans, particularly the so-called 'legacy fans' who regularly attend matches, are naturally appalled by the idea of Villarreal and Barcelona playing their La Liga match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, rather than in Spain. Advertisement Real Madrid are unhappy, too, releasing a statement that objects on the grounds of a fair league competition. 'The integrity of the competition requires that all matches take place under the same conditions for all teams,' the club said, referring to the risk of 'affecting sporting integrity' and saying this could be 'a turning point in the world of football'. They argue that FIFA should not approve the match if every club in La Liga has not also approved it, presumably partly worrying that what would have been a tough away game for Barcelona would now, instead, be a match played in a neutral (and more lucrative) venue. But should we expect FIFA to intervene at all in this situation? In these times of polarisation and knee-jerk reactions, it's sometimes worth considering that just because you strongly dislike something, it doesn't necessarily mean it should be prohibited. Is it the job of FIFA to determine whether this proposed fixture should take place? The current legal situation takes some unravelling. Back in October 2018, when La Liga first declared its intention to hold a match in Miami, the FIFA Council debated the issue and subsequently announced it 'emphasised the sporting principle that official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association'. Then, in February 2020, a FIFA press release stated it had 'endorsed the principle set out by the FIFA Council that official domestic matches should take place on the territory of the member association concerned'. But after a challenge from Relevent, a U.S.-based company that organises friendly matches, later in 2020, FIFA clarified that 'endorsement' had never become official policy. 'No such regulations were ever submitted to the FIFA Council or approved by the FIFA Council, and no such regulation is pending for consideration,' said FIFA chief legal and compliance officer Emilio Garcia Silvero. The October 2018 announcement, it transpired, was merely 'guidance' rather than 'policy'. Advertisement Then, last year, FIFA formed a working group to 'review and recommend potential changes to the FIFA Regulations governing international matches'. Matches like the one being proposed in Miami involving two foreign sides are classified by FIFA as an international match and approval is required from the association the clubs belong to (Spain), the association of the country where the game will be played (United States), and FIFA itself, as is the case for all international matches. To approve this match, then, FIFA would be going against its own council's guidance, but not against its official policy. Really, this all comes back to what FIFA is actually all about. It was formed in 1904, but it didn't actually get around to organising anything of particular substance for another quarter of a century when the World Cup was formed. Until then, as David Goldblatt wrote in his seminal history of the game, The Ball Is Round, 'its work was overwhelmingly concentrated on the necessary paper shuffling of regulating international football… deciding who could play with who, and when.' And now we can add a third 'w': where? FIFA's main job, like that of every comparable global governing body, is developing and promoting the sport. Sure enough, in Gianni Infantino's 'strategic objectives' for the 2023 to 2027 term, he outlined his three main focuses as 'to organise competitions, to develop football, and to expand FIFA's presence across the world'. Whatever problems one might have with Infantino, there are few quibbles to be had there. FIFA is, ultimately, a body dedicated to the internationalisation of football. And let's not forget there have been several previous debates where the internationalist approach in football was deeply unpopular. For long periods, associations — including those in England, Spain and Italy — had a strict ban on foreign players participating in domestic league competitions. Other national sides banned their own players if they played their club football overseas (a rule which is still in place, as it happens, in English rugby union). These debates are from a bygone era, but national borders have become increasingly less important in the structure of football. And if the core problem here is that matches will be taken away from clubs' traditional locations — and more pertinently, their traditional fans — that is on the clubs themselves and, in the case of Villarreal versus Barcelona, the Spanish federation. And really, the issue — and Real Madrid's objection — is not simply that the match would be played overseas, it's that it wouldn't be played at the Estadio de la Ceramica. If Villarreal and Barcelona had decided that they could generate more revenue by playing the match in, say, Seville, it would also compromise the integrity of the league structure. But it probably wouldn't be an issue for FIFA. However, FIFA does have a duty to protect individual nations from their own domestic football matches being overshadowed by the travelling circus of La Liga matches, and it is right that its current rules insist the relevant association must approve any matches being played on its soil. And that is the most important thing here: if FIFA changes its rules and takes away the notion that a 'host nation' would have to give its explicit approval for a match like this to take place in its country, that would completely undermine its members, and that should prompt a huge backlash. But if Barcelona, Villarreal, La Liga and the United States Soccer Federation are all happy for this match to take place in Miami, there is no particular reason FIFA — by its very nature an internationalist body — should stand in their way. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Karen Carney's five smartest Premier League moves of the transfer window
With 144 appearances, Karen Carney is England's third-most capped player. She has played at four World Cups and four European Championships and also represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics. Now an accomplished broadcaster, Carney will be writing for The Athletic across our men's and women's football and soccer coverage this season. Arsenal have been crying out for a striker for years. Now they have got their man in Viktor Gyokeres, who signed in July for a €63.5million (£54.8m, $74.2m) fixed up-front fee from Sporting CP. When we start talking about the 'smartest' moves of the summer, picking the Sweden international is obvious, given that he has been one of the biggest and most discussed players of the window. Advertisement Signing Gyokeres (pictured above) gives Arsenal the chance to address the narrative that they could win titles if only they had a true No 9 — not least because when you look at the Premier League table and ask why they have repeatedly come second, the answer jumps out in the numbers. Last season, Mikel Arteta's team drew 14 matches and scored 69 goals — in comparison, title-winners Liverpool scored 86 and drew nine, and third-placed Manchester City scored 72 and drew eight. There are a multitude of reasons to explain it but regardless, Arsenal scored considerably fewer goals than their own tally of 91 in the 2023-24 season. All of that makes Gyokeres' signing significant. Their recruitment across the team has been smart. They have signed in other areas that they needed — a defensive midfielder (Martin Zubimendi) and a backup on the wings for Bukayo Saka (Noni Madueke). Gyokeres' impact will be felt when teams sit deeper against Arsenal. When they are otherwise slower in their build-up play, getting crosses into the box and having his presence there will be important. It also gives them a chance, if teams press high, to play long. Arsenal have done it with Kai Havertz in the past — if the opposition are giving you the option to hit your forward quicker, then smart teams do not turn that down. Now Arsenal have got a natural No 9 who will make those runs for a more direct choice. It will take the team, particularly the wingers, time to get used to having that type of forward. As a wide player, your No 9 dictates the type of ball you play in. Gyokeres, 27, can run in behind and he is a powerful runner but the service to him will be key against deep-sitting sides. This is where Arsenal's analysts will help Saka and other attackers understand the type of run and cross he might want. The players might even have that conversation between themselves. It is in the team's best interests to get to know the type of service Gyokeres wants because strikers rely on it. We might see a different type of attacking creativity from Arsenal with him in the team. Gyokeres is a smart signing and getting the best out of him will require his team-mates to be smart with their service, too. This season is interesting for Manchester United as they will not be playing European football for the first time in a decade. Newcastle United in the 2022-23 season and Nottingham Forest last year provide fine examples of how focusing solely on the Premier League can be used to your advantage. That rhythm, without the additional pressures of mid-week Champions League or Europa League fixtures, will be familiar to one of their new signings, Bryan Mbeumo. After only scoring 44 league goals last season with a goal difference of -10, United have added a player who registered 20 goals and seven assists for Brentford. He should fit in well on the right side of Ruben Amorim's system, addressing a problem area. It is a step up for Mbeumo, too, and there is new pressure for him wearing the Manchester United jersey, which is something that has weighed heavily on players. But I enjoyed seeing him take on the role as Brentford's leading man after Ivan Toney left last year. This is a smart move for a player who, at 26 years old, has the hunger to prove he can do it at the next level. It has been a summer of uncertainty for Mbeumo's old club, Brentford, after losing head coach Thomas Frank to Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Mbeumo, midfielder Christian Norgaard (to Arsenal) and goalkeeper Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen). Yoann Wissa's future is still in question, too. This is new head coach Keith Andrews' first job at this level, too, which adds a degree of uncertainty. I know how good Brentford are operationally but with so much change in one summer, I worry about their chances coming into the new season. In the signing of 26-year-old Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool for a fee up to £18million ($24.3m) on a five-year deal, they have added a goalkeeper who could be key in big moments. A lot could be asked of Kelleher this season but he showed from his time at Liverpool that he could step into the shoes of Alisson, one of the best in his position. Kelleher was patient for his chance at Anfield and always looked ready to make the step up as a No 1. Sometimes, keeping a player can be as important as bringing in a new one, a concept that is true for Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest. When it comes to smart moves, the 25-year-old signing a new three-year contract to fend off a move to Tottenham was a masterstroke. Forest fans will have been disappointed to lose Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for an initial fee of £52million. They have replaced him with Dan Ndoye but Elanga's departure made it all the more important for Forest to hold onto captain Gibbs-White, who is vital to Forest on the transition and is a powerful presence at the heart of midfield. Now it has been confirmed they will be playing in the Europa League, it looks even more important that Forest have secured the future of a leader who contributed seven goals and eight assists in the league last season. Rayan Cherki's performances for Lyon in the past few seasons brought lots of attention, so Manchester City signing him early in the window for €36.5million on a five-year deal is another savvy move. He was Europe's most consistently creative player last season across the top five leagues (according to his expected assists, xA, below) and has a wand of a left foot. Advertisement The next challenge is for someone to push him to the next level. Nailing down the right work ethic and Cherki's defensive input will be important, but his technical ability is not in doubt. The 21-year-old is a standout player who can switch it on at any time, as he did in Lyon's quarter-final first leg against Manchester United, popping up with a goal after a relatively quiet performance. He has ambition — saying that he wants to emulate new City team-mate Rodri in winning the Ballon d'Or — and Pep Guardiola is the right coach to help him achieve his goals. If Guardiola makes him efficient without denting his creativity, City's new No 10 can achieve great things. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rugby Championship kicks off amid uncertain future
The annual Rugby Championship, featuring World Cup title-holders South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, kicks off on Saturday amid uncertainty over its future. New Zealand will do an eight-match tour of South Africa next year, including three Tests, during the August to October window when the Championship is staged. That tour is aimed at boosting the coffers of the two national rugby bodies, and rules out the Springboks and All Blacks being involved in a double-round Championship as well. Australia are set to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the Championship has always been reduced from a double to single round in years when the global showpiece takes place. Adding to the long-term uncertainty is South Africa agreeing to an eight-match tour of New Zealand in 2030. Record four-time world champions South Africa and Australia get what could be the last six-round Rugby Championship, at least for the foreseeable future, underway at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. A few hours later, nine-time Championship winners New Zealand take on Argentina in Cordoba. Pre-Championship discussions among Springbok supporters centred around the chances on September 6 of South Africa defeating greatest rivals New Zealand in Auckland for the first time since 1937. The matches against Australia -- they clash again on August 23 in Cape Town -- were rarely discussed as the fortunes of the Wallabies had hit rock bottom in the past two years. - Unwanted history - Australia created unwanted history at the 2023 World Cup in France by failing to make the knockout stages for the first time. Last year, they suffered a 40-point loss in Argentina, one of five defeats in six Championship matches. But the just completed three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions saw dramatic Test-by-Test improvement, culminating in a 22-12 triumph in the last encounter under a Sydney deluge. Australia lost the series 2-1, but impressed with their physicality and passion, with Lions coach Andy Farrell among their cheerleaders. "I think special things are going to happen for this team (Australia) over the next 18 months. By the time the World Cup comes round, they will be a force to reckon with," he said. South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus was particularly impressed with the work of the Australian pack, led by captain and No 8 Harry Wilson, at the breakdowns. This was an area where the Springboks did not always impose themselves when beating Italy twice and Georgia comfortably in warm-up matches. "They (Australians) really fight hard at the breakdowns and clean out well. We have to nullify that threat," said Erasmus. While South Africa have become wary of Australia, tradition favours a home victory as the Springboks have won 10 of 11 Tests against the Wallabies at Ellis Park. In Cordoba, New Zealand will be favoured to beat Argentina, but the days when an All Blacks victory over the Pumas was taken for granted are over. Three-time World Cup winners New Zealand won 28 of the first 29 Tests against the South Americans, with the other drawn. But the unpredictable Pumas have won three of 10 internationals between the countries since, two of which came in Christchurch and Wellington. "We want to play fast and be really strong at the set-pieces. Our team is really trying to find its identity this year," All Blacks prop Fletcher Newell told reporters in Cordoba. New Zealand warmed up with a hat-trick of victories over France, who lacked many resting stars, including scrum-half Antoine Dupont. Argentina confirmed their hard-to-fathom form by beating the British and Irish Lions in Dublin, then losing twice at home to a severely-weakened England. "The key is to give our backs a plentiful supply of ball. They have the ability to cause problems for any opponents," said Argentina loose forward Marcos Kremer. dl/nf
