Full Breakdown
UK Submits Joint Bid for FIFA Women's World Cup 2035
11/28/2025, 9:56:21 PM
Overview of the Bid
The United Kingdom's four football associations—The English FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA, and FA of Wales—have officially submitted a joint bid to host the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2035. This tournament would mark the largest single-sport event ever held in the UK and the first FIFA World Cup hosted in the country since 1966. The bid encompasses 22 proposed stadiums across 16 host cities, with 16 venues in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland.
Tournament Details
The proposed tournament is set to feature 104 matches involving 48 teams over a span of 39 days. The bid includes plans for 48 team base camp training sites, 82 venue-specific training sites, and 32 FIFA Fan Festival sites. The anticipated scale of the event is significant, with projections of 4.5 million ticket sales and a global TV audience of 3.5 billion, making it the most accessible tournament ever, with 63 million people living within two hours of a proposed venue.
Government Support
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed strong support for the bid, highlighting the UK's passion for football and the inspiration drawn from the Lionesses' success. He emphasized that the tournament would not only welcome millions of fans but also benefit local communities and businesses. Starmer noted that the UK government is investing in school sports and grassroots facilities to create more opportunities for girls in football.
Legacy and Impact
The bid aims to leave a lasting legacy through three key pillars: leadership, commercial growth, and community engagement. The plan includes initiatives to empower women in leadership roles, double the number of female officials by 2035, and enhance the commercial potential of women's football. The four nations are committed to reinvesting revenues into grassroots and elite pathways to ensure the sport's growth.
Proposed Venues
The bid outlines a diverse range of stadiums, including:
- Belfast: Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park
- Birmingham: Sports Quarter Stadium and Villa Park
- Brighton & Hove: American Express Stadium
- Bristol: Ashton Gate
- Cardiff: Cardiff City Stadium and Principality Stadium
- Edinburgh: Easter Road
- Glasgow: Hampden Park
- Leeds: Elland Road
- Liverpool: Hill Dickinson Stadium
- London: Chelsea FC Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Selhurst Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Wembley Stadium
- Manchester: Etihad Stadium
- Newcastle: St James’ Park
- Nottingham: City Ground
- Sunderland: Stadium of Light
- Trafford: Old Trafford
- Wrexham: Racecourse
Several of these venues are undergoing redevelopment to meet FIFA's technical requirements ahead of the tournament.
Conclusion
The UK’s bid for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2035 represents a significant opportunity to elevate women's football both domestically and globally. With strong governmental backing and a comprehensive plan for infrastructure and community engagement, the UK aims to create a transformative event that celebrates and promotes women's sports.
