Joint Bid Officially Submitted
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI), in collaboration with the Football Association (England), the Scottish FA, and the FA of Wales, has formally submitted a joint bid to host the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2035. The official submission took place on November 28, 2025, marking a significant step in the four nations' ambition to bring the prestigious tournament to the UK and Ireland.
Scope and Scale of the Proposed Tournament
The joint bid, operating under the vision of 'All Together', outlines plans for a tournament of unprecedented scale. It proposes utilizing 22 stadiums across 16 host cities, with 16 venues in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland, specifically Belfast. Organizers project the event to be the largest single-sport spectacle ever staged in the UK, featuring 104 matches contested by 48 teams over 39 days. The bid anticipates attracting approximately 4.5 million ticket sales and reaching a global television audience of up to 3.5 billion viewers. Furthermore, the bid emphasizes accessibility, claiming that 63 million people would live within a two-hour travel radius of a proposed venue.
Vision for Legacy and Growth
A core component of the 'All Together' bid is its commitment to fostering a lasting legacy for women's and girls' football. The Football Associations involved have expressed their dedication to using the tournament as a catalyst for growth, aiming to inspire greater participation and development within the sport across all four nations. Economy Minister Dr. Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the bid, noting that 'Hosting such a prestigious, global event would have a lasting legacy of inspiring women and girls to become more active and involved in sports'. Angela Platt, Director of Women's Football for the Irish FA, stated that the bid aligns with their 'Together We Thrive' strategy, prioritizing the creation of a legacy that offers more women and girls opportunities to play, develop, and remain engaged in football at every level.
Next Steps in the Bidding Process
The joint bid from the UK and Ireland is currently the sole valid submission for the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup. FIFA will now undertake a comprehensive evaluation process of the bid. The final decision on the host nation for the 2035 tournament is expected to be made by the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, on April 30, 2026.
8 Comments
Mariposa
While the economic benefits and global visibility are undeniable, I hope the investment genuinely trickles down to local communities and not just large corporations. Ensuring a truly accessible experience for all fans is also important.
Michelangelo
The 'All Together' approach is a commendable show of unity across the nations, but coordinating 22 venues across four different countries presents significant logistical hurdles. Hopefully, they have robust plans for seamless operations and fan travel.
Eugene Alta
Finally, a major global event on our doorstep! Can't wait to experience the atmosphere.
Africa
Bringing a World Cup here is incredibly exciting and will inspire many, yet I worry about the environmental impact of such a large-scale event. Sustainable planning should be a top priority alongside the sporting ambitions.
Coccinella
It's wonderful to hear about the commitment to a lasting legacy for women's football, but the real challenge will be securing consistent funding and infrastructure improvements *after* the tournament. We need more than just a temporary boost.
eliphas
FIFA's track record isn't exactly spotless. I'm skeptical about the integrity of this whole bidding process.
Eugene Alta
So excited for 2035! Bringing a World Cup here is a dream come true.
dedus mopedus
22 stadiums and 16 cities? That's a logistical nightmare waiting to happen, not to mention the disruption.