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- UK bid includes 22 stadiums in 16 cities across four nations
- Joint submission from US, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica is only bid for 2031 tournament
- Women’s World Cup expanding to 48 teams after 2027 edition
Manchester United’s proposed new 100,000-capacity stadium plus Wrexham’s redeveloped ground are among 22 venues set to host matches at the 2035 Fifa Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The four UK associations officially submitted their bid to stage the 48-team finals to soccer’s global governing body on Friday, with no other bidders in the running for the tournament.
In all, 22 stadiums in 16 cities across the four nations have been included in the submission.
Old Trafford as it currently stands has been included, but the bid team intend to put the new Manchester United stadium forward for consideration by Fifa once plans for it are confirmed.
Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham said in April that his organisation would have conversations with United about including the new stadium in the bid.
United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche said: “We are proud to be part of the rich sporting and cultural fabric of Trafford, and the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2035 is a brilliant opportunity for us to showcase our home to the rest of the world.
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“Our ambition is to build a new 100,000-seater stadium fit to host the biggest international football games.”
Wrexham’s SToK Cae Ras is set to be one of three Welsh venues used for the tournament provided their Hollywood owners’ plans to increase the capacity come to fruition, while Birmingham City’s planned 62,000-capacity stadium in the city’s Sports Quarter is also set to feature.
Chelsea’s current Stamford Bridge ground would not meet Fifa’s technical requirements but depending on the outcome of the club’s consultation process regarding a new or redeveloped ground, they could be a host venue.
Windsor Park in Belfast has also been included in the submission. Northern Ireland had to drop out as a co-host of the men’s Uefa European Championship in 2028 when the UK government said it would not provide funding in time to redevelop Casement Park in the west of the city.
The 2035 bid team said the finals would represent the biggest single-sport event staged in the country and would be the first World Cup played on British soil since the men’s finals of 1966, which were solely hosted by England.
4.5 million tickets are set to be made available for the tournament, which will follow on from the successful hosting by England of the Women’s Euro in 2022.
UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Our bid to host the 2035 Fifa Women’s World Cup shows the UK’s passion for football.
“The Lionesses’ success has inspired girls across our country, and we’ll build on that momentum by welcoming millions of football fans from around the world to a tournament that will benefit communities and businesses in host cities up and down the UK.
“With significant investment in school sport and grassroots facilities through our Plan for Change, we’re creating opportunities for girls to play for their national team.”
Fifa also received just one official bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, with a joint submission from the US, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica.
The hosts of both tournaments are set to be confirmed at the Fifa Congress in Vancouver on 30th April 2026.
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