FIFA Women’s World Cup to Feature 48 Teams from 2031

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to grow even bigger! Starting in 2031, the tournament will feature 48 teams instead of the current 32, FIFA announced on Friday.

The decision was made unanimously by the FIFA Council, which praised the rapid progress of women’s football worldwide. FIFA believes that allowing more teams to take part will open doors for more countries and players, helping the sport grow globally and encouraging more investment in women’s football.

With the new format, the tournament will now have 12 groups and 104 matches, up from 64. The overall length of the tournament will be extended by one week.

“This is not just about adding more teams,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “It’s about helping more football associations build stronger women’s football programs and grow the game.”

The Women’s World Cup started in 1991 with just 12 teams. It expanded to 16, then 24, and finally 32 teams in the 2023 edition hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The next edition will be held in Brazil in 2027.

The men’s World Cup will also expand to 48 teams in 2026, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.