The United Kingdom has emerged as the clear frontrunner to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup after FIFA President Gianni Infantino described it as the “one valid bid” for the tournament. This announcement came during the UEFA Congress in Belgrade, effectively confirming that the joint bid from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales stands unopposed.
“We received one bid for 2031 and one bid – one valid bid I should add – for 2035,” Infantino stated. “The 2035 bid is from Europe, from the home nations.”
The UK’s bid was submitted last month ahead of Monday’s deadline for expressions of interest. While Spain’s federation president Rafael Louzan had announced his country’s intention to bid alongside Portugal and Morocco, Infantino’s comments suggest this potential rival bid either wasn’t formally submitted or didn’t meet FIFA’s requirements.
The UK bid will now proceed to the FIFA Congress in the second quarter of next year, where it could be approved by acclamation, similar to how Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 men’s World Cup was confirmed last December. However, the bid will still undergo standard FIFA evaluation processes before final approval.
Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive of the English Football Association, expressed pride in the development: “We are honoured to be the sole bidder for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035. Hosting the first FIFA World Cup since 1966 with our home nations partners will be very special.”
For the 2031 tournament, Infantino confirmed the United States as the sole bidder, potentially alongside other nations from the CONCACAF region covering North and Central America and the Caribbean.
The prospect of hosting the Women’s World Cup represents a significant opportunity for the UK to showcase its commitment to women’s football, which has seen tremendous growth in recent years. The tournament would bring substantial economic benefits and further boost participation in the women’s game across all four nations.
