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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tom Garry and Suzanne Wrack

Women’s World Cup to expand to 48 teams at 2031 tournament

World Cup Fifa United Kingdom Football United States
Spain's Olga Carmona celebrates with the World Cup in 2023
Spain's Olga Carmona, who scored the only goal of the 2023 World Cup final against England, celebrates with the trophy. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA

The Women’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams from the 2031 tournament onwards after the proposal was approved by the Fifa council on Friday.

The UK is set to host the event in 2035 and that tournament will now involve 12 groups of four teams and more than 100 matches, with the format mirroring the newly expanded men’s World Cup. It is understood Fifa took this decision after consulting the continental confederations and believe expansion of its most important tournament befits the rapid growth of the women’s game.

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