England Netball has been awarded the rights to host the 18th edition of the Netball World Cup, which will take place at Manchester's Co-op Live in 2031. The announcement marks the fourth time England will have hosted the tournament.
Co-op Live to host the tournament
The Co-op Live, the UK's largest arena, will stage the event. Netball became the first ball sport to be held at the venue when it hosted the Netball Super League Grand Final in June, a match won by Manchester Thunder in front of a crowd of 9,000. The arena is preparing for a capacity of 15,000 for the World Cup.
Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of the England Netball Board, described the award as a landmark moment for the sport and for women's sport generally. She said the tournament offers an opportunity to increase the sport's profile and to grow a future generation of young players.
Building on the 2019 legacy
The 2031 tournament aims to build on the legacy of the 2019 World Cup, which was hosted in Liverpool and saw 112,000 tickets sold, with over 160,000 women and girls inspired to play netball in its wake.
Baroness Campbell added that holding a tournament in England would have an impact across the whole UK and the world, connecting nations to grow the game and inspiring young people to play for fun or to aspire to become future England Roses.
A proud history in women's sport
Netball holds a unique place in the development of women's sport, having initially formed as a women-only sport. England Netball is celebrating its centenary with the announcement of the World Cup. The sport began in England in the 19th century, and in 1926 the netball fraternity formed the Netball Association, a year before women gained the vote.
Baroness Campbell noted the pride in the sport's history and its role as a sport run by women for women, while also opening its doors to boys and men and offering mixed netball. She highlighted that the tournament is another moment to draw attention to girls' and women's sport.
