LONDON: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have officially launched a joint bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, calling it the largest single-sport event ever proposed in the United Kingdom and the first World Cup on UK soil since 1966.
The bid features an expansive plan built around 22 stadiums in 16 host cities — 16 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland. The proposed tournament format would see 48 teams contest 104 matches over 39 days, supported by 48 team base camp training centres, 82 venue-specific training sites and 32 fan-festival locations.
Organisers emphasised accessibility as a cornerstone of their proposal, noting that 63 million people live within two hours of one of the planned venues, a factor they say could make the event the most accessible World Cup in history.
The historic bid also invokes memories of 1966, when England’s men lifted the World Cup on home soil. Nearly seven decades later, the Home Nations hope to bring another global football spectacle back to the UK — this time showcasing the continued rise and ambition of the women’s game.
