Historic Four-Nation Bid for Women's Football Showcase
The United Kingdom has launched an ambitious joint bid to host the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2035, featuring an impressive selection of 22 stadiums across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The groundbreaking proposal, submitted on Friday, promises to deliver the largest single-sport event ever staged on British soil, surpassing both the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 1998 European Championships in scale and impact.
Stadium Selection Blends Tradition with Innovation
The bid includes a remarkable mix of established iconic venues and future developments that showcase the UK's commitment to football infrastructure. Among the 16 English grounds, three Welsh venues, two Scottish stadiums, and one Northern Irish location are household names like Wembley Stadium, The Emirates, and The Principality Stadium.
However, the proposal takes a bold step forward by including several stadiums that currently exist only on drawing boards. Most notably, Manchester United's planned redevelopment of Old Trafford and Birmingham City's proposed Powerhouse Stadium feature prominently in the submission, despite neither project having commenced construction.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United's hierarchy announced their vision for a revamped Old Trafford back in March, though progress has stalled since the initial announcement. Meanwhile, Tom Brady-owned Birmingham City aims to complete their new £2.5billion Powerhouse Stadium by the 2030-2031 season, with designers promising the development will "change the city forever."
FIFA Standards Shape Final Venue Selection
The bid submission reveals fascinating details about FIFA's evaluation process. Old Trafford appears in the proposal "in its current form" because plans for the club's new 100,000-seater capacity home were not deemed detailed enough to pass FIFA's evaluation threshold.
Similarly, both Chelsea's Stamford Bridge and Wrexham's Stok Cae Ras failed to meet FIFA's standards, leading to the inclusion of a provisionally named "Chelsea Stadium" in the Football Association's proposal. Todd Boehly is understood to be in active discussions regarding a potential stadium switch for Chelsea to accommodate future tournament requirements.
The expanded 48-team format for the Women's World Cup from 2031 onward means the tournament will require approximately 15 stadiums to host 104 matches over 39 days during the summer of 2035.
Leadership Emphasises Transformative Legacy
In a joint statement issued by the CEOs of the Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and English Football Associations, the bid's broader mission became clear: "A Women's World Cup in the UK has the power to turbo charge the women's and girls' game both in the UK and globally. Our bid also demonstrates our commitment to leaving a lasting legacy, in the run up to 2035, and the years afterwards."
Prime Minister Kier Starmer highlighted the inspirational effect of the Lionesses' recent successes, stating: "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."
England Women's Head Coach Sabrina Wiegman captured the tournament's potential social impact, noting: "It's so much more than football, I think. It will boost the women's game but it will boost women in society and, as we have seen, it will bring the country together."
The Lionesses' back-to-back European Championship victories, including their triumph over Spain last summer, coupled with their 2023 World Cup final appearance, have significantly raised the profile of women's football in the UK, creating perfect conditions for this ambitious hosting bid.
The complete list of proposed stadiums includes: Windsor Park (Belfast), Powerhouse Stadium (Birmingham), Villa Park (Birmingham), American Express Stadium (Brighton), Ashton Gate (Bristol), Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff), Principality Stadium (Cardiff), Easter Road (Edinburgh), Hampden Park (Glasgow), Elland Road (Leeds), Hill Dickinson Stadium (Liverpool), Chelsea Stadium (London), Emirates Stadium (London), Selhurst Park (London), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London), Wembley Stadium (London), Etihad Stadium (Manchester), St James' Park (Newcastle), City Ground (Nottingham), Stadium of Light (Sunderland), Old Trafford (Manchester), and Stok Cae Ras (Wrexham).
