Latest news with #FifaCouncil
Malay Mail
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Fifa Women's World Cup expanded to 48 teams from 2031
PARIS, May 10 — The Women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams, like the men's competition, starting with the 2031 edition, Fifa announced yesterday. The Fifa Council unanimously agreed to enlarge the competition 'given the remarkable recent strides made by women's football across the world,' the sport's governing body said. The 48-team tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week, Fifa said. Fifa President Gianni Infantino said the expansion followed the success of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, won by Spain. 'The Fifa Women's World Cup 2023, the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,' said Infantino. 'This is not just about having 16 more teams playing ... but taking the next steps in relation to the women's game in general by ensuring that more Fifa Member Associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women's football structures,' he said. 'This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women's football globally.' The 2027 tournament in Brazil, which will be the tenth edition of the women's event, will remain at 32 teams. Fifa have still to ratify the 2031 and 2035 hosts. The 2031 edition is expected to take place in the United States, sole candidate to host the tournament. The United Kingdom, including 2023 finalists England, are bidding to host the 2035 event. 'I can confirm as part of the bidding process that we received one bid for 2031 and one valid bid for 2035,' Infantino said last month. The men's tournament will be expanded to 48 teams for the World Cup in 2026, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. On Friday, the Fifa Council also adopted new anti-racism measures notably by increasing fines. Federations will also have to bring their own Disciplinary Code into compliance, and Fifa can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if they believe national sanctions are insufficient, as is the case in doping cases. The 211 Fifa Council members were also informed about preparations for the 75th Fifa Congress that will take place on May 15 in Asunción, Paraguay. The Fifa Council also approved the strategy to support Afghan women footballers, which includes the creation of an Afghan Women's Refugee Team (AWRT). 'Fifa is engaging directly with the relevant players,' football's governing body said. 'This is a landmark initiative,' added Infantino. 'Fifa is committed to giving every girl the possibility to play football.' — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Fifa approves 48-team women's World Cup from 2031 edition
The 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was the first to have 32 teams. (EPA Images pic) ZURICH : The women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 edition onwards after world football's governing body Fifa said its council approved the proposal at a virtual meeting yesterday. The 48-team World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 – the same as the expanded men's World Cup in 2026 – and extending the tournament by one week. The 2027 women's World Cup, which will be held in Brazil, will have 32 teams. The 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand was the first to have 32 teams, up from 24 in the 2019 tournament hosted by France. 'This is not just about having 16 more teams playing in the Fifa Women's World Cup but taking the next steps in relation to the women's game in general,' Fifa president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. 'More Fifa member associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women's football structures from a holistic point of view.' The 2026 men's World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, will be the first to have 48 teams. The men's World Cup had 32 teams since the 1998 edition until the last tournament in Qatar in 2022. The US is poised to be named host of the 2031 women's World Cup as the only bid, marking the third time the country will stage the tournament after previously hosting it in 1999 and 2003. The UK is the sole bidder for the 2035 tournament. Hosts for the 2031 and 2035 editions are yet to be ratified. Although there are concerns that games could be one-sided with 48 teams, Infantino said the 2023 edition showed sides are closing the gap on the elite. 'The Fifa women's World Cup 2023, the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness,' he added. 'This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women's football globally.' Players' union Fifpro welcomed the expansion of the women's World Cup as it demonstrated the growth of women's football. 'However, the support of players depends on inclusive decision-making and cooperative planning that respects all stakeholders,' Fifpro said in a statement. '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.' Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
ITV News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Women's World Cup to expand to 48 teams from 2031
The Women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 tournament, Fifa has announced. Fifa Council, the governing body of the football association, voted unanimously for the changes. It said the changes would give more countries "the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women's football structures". "This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women's football globally," it added. The increase in teams means the tournament will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the tournament by one week. The decision means that from 2031, the Women's World Cup will feature the same number of teams as the men's finals. Fifa still needs to officially approve the hosts for 2031 following venue inspections, but the United States faces no competition. The UK looks set to host the 2035 Women's World Cup finals - after Fifa President Gianni Infantino said last month it was the only 'valid bid' received. The tournament only expanded to 32 teams from 16 in 2023. There was scepticism over that decision, but the finals in Australia and New Zealand threw up plenty of surprises and were very competitive, with only three of the 32 teams failing to register a point. Infantino has been a strong advocate for expanding the women's finals to 48 teams, while Football Association president Mark Bullingham said last month the four national associations would be 'really comfortable' if the finals were expanded to 48 teams. That would likely require 16 venues, which Bullingham believes would allow the tournament to create more impact across the four nations. Infantino said on Friday: 'This is not just about having 16 more teams playing in the FIFA Women's World Cup but taking the next steps in relation to the women's game in general by ensuring that more FIFA member associations have the chance to benefit from the tournament to develop their women's football structures from a holistic point of view. 'The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, the first in which teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage, among many other records, set a new standard for global competitiveness. This decision ensures we are maintaining the momentum in terms of growing women's football globally.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's World Cup to expand to 48 teams from 2031
Fifa has announced that the Women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 tournament. 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
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Women's World Cup to expand to 48 teams at 2031 tournament
The Women's World Cup will expand to 48 teams from the 2031 tournament onwards after the proposal was approved by Fifa Council on Friday, the Guardian understands. The UK is set to host the event in 2035 and that tournament will now involve 12 groups of four teams and more than 100 matches, with the format mirroring the newly expanded men's World Cup. It is understood Fifa took this decision after consulting the continental confederations and believe expansion of its most important tournament befits the rapid growth of the women's game. Related: England's World Cup run ends in heartache as Spain claim their first title Advertisement The World Cup increased in size from 24 to 32 teams for the 2023 event in Australia and New Zealand. It will again have 32 teams for the 2027 edition in Brazil. The eight venues for 2027's event – including the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro – were confirmed earlier this week. The United States is set to stage the 2031 tournament after there were no competing bids to stage either that or the 2035 event. The US and UK are yet to be formally ratified as the hosts but that is expected to be a formality. The expansion of the Women's World Cup could mean an increased number of host cities and stadiums will be required in the UK's 2035 tournament plans. Alongside Wembley, Hampden Park and Cardiff's Principality Stadium, it is thought as-yet unbuilt venues such as Manchester United's new stadium and Birmingham City's proposed new 62,000-seater home could both be in contention to host matches if built in time. Fifa has also approved a three-pillar strategy for Afghan women's football, including the establishment of a women's refugee team, as reported by the Guardian in March. The three pillars of the plan mean the global governing body will provide 'project-specific support for women and girls in Afghanistan', while taking into account the limitations there, embark on 'advocacy and diplomatic engagement with relevant actors' in the Taliban-led country and enhance playing opportunities and support for players outside of the country. The third pillar includes the establishment of a team of evacuated players of Afghan nationality who will be able to participate in friendlies and tournaments organised by Fifa and will 'provide a supportive environment that prioritises player safety and wellbeing'. Advertisement It is understood the decision has come too late for a team to qualify for the 2027 World Cup, with Afghanistan not entered into the June qualifying campaign for the 2026 Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup, which will determine World Cup qualification. The refugee team will be organised for a one-year pilot phase, after which its long-term viability, effectiveness and the potential of the format being used for other refugee groups will be assessed.
