Manchester United are on a direct collision course with the Football Association over the hosting rights for the 2035 Women's World Cup final, with the club pushing for their proposed new 100,000-seater stadium to stage the showpiece event instead of the national stadium at Wembley.
The Northern Powerhouse Stadium Vision
The ambitious plan forms a central part of the club's vision to create a 'Wembley of the North'. Club officials are now actively ramping up their efforts to ensure their proposed new ground – which would be bigger and more modern than Wembley – becomes the venue for the women's football showcase a decade from now. The preferred option is a brand-new stadium, estimated to take around five years to construct, although a comprehensive refurbishment of the historic Old Trafford has not been entirely ruled out.
Funding and Regional Growth
The colossal project received a significant boost with the arrival of the first tranche of funding. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham announced the region's 'Growth Plan', which includes an initial commitment of £26 million for 382 new homes. This represents the first major investment in the wider Old Trafford Regeneration Area, a project that also envisions 15,000 new homes and the landmark 100,000-capacity stadium. United have confirmed they would fund the stadium construction themselves.
Collette Roche, United’s Chief Operating Officer, welcomed the announcement, stating: "We are delighted to see the Old Trafford Regeneration project at the heart of Greater Manchester’s wider growth plan for the next decade. We want to build the world’s best football stadium as a new home for Manchester United and a venue fit for the biggest international events, including the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup."
Navigating the Path to 2035
While the club has not yet publicly declared its desire to host the final, it is understood to be a clear and driving ambition within the organisation. Key to the project's success are ongoing talks with Freightliner over the purchase of a rail terminal behind the Stretford End, a land acquisition seen as crucial for the redevelopment.
Although officials do not wish to create a major rift with the FA, the club's firm position is that a new Old Trafford would provide a superior venue for fans and FIFA. United strongly believe that not all major finals in the UK should be automatically held in London. The club is now expected to formally present these arguments to both FIFA and the FA in the coming months.
This bold move by Manchester United signals a significant shift in the landscape of major sporting events in the UK, positioning the North of England as a prime contender for hosting the world's biggest football occasions.
