Overview

Context and Significance

The 2035 Women’s World Cup bid from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales marks a historic, unified push to bring football’s global showpiece to the UK and Ireland. This joint bid signals a new level of collaboration across four nations, aiming to showcase top‑level women’s football across multiple venues and to maximize fan participation domestically. The effort goes beyond hosting; it is a statement of growth, equality, and long‑term development for the sport, aligned with FIFA’s evolving approach to include more markets in the world’s premier women’s tournament. For the football associations involved, the bid reinforces a commitment to give girls and women better pathways to reach the highest level, while inviting sponsors and governments to invest in a lasting legacy. FIFA has outlined a framework that the four nations are now translating into concrete plans.

What the Bid Seeks to Deliver

At its core, the 2035 Women’s World Cup bid aims to maximise participation and visibility. The plan highlights a venue network across the region and a ticketing scheme designed to reach broad audiences. Organisers expect to offer about 4.5 million tickets to fans around the world, with affordable pricing tiers and inclusive fan experiences intended to attract first‑time viewers as well as long‑time supporters. The bid also stresses a strong broadcast strategy to ensure global reach and local accessibility. In short, the proposal envisions a festival of football that resonates beyond match days and leaves a lasting footprint in women’s sport. Learn more about the bid process at FIFA and keep an eye on national updates from BBC Sport.

Bid Details

Joint nations and governance

The 2035 Women’s World Cup bid is a coordinated effort by four home nations, with England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales working together under a single governance framework. The joint approach is designed to present a united, efficient plan that leverages each nation’s unique strengths—stadium capacity, transport links, and fan culture—while sharing responsibilities for tournament delivery. The bid promises transparent planning, robust community engagement, and coordinated marketing across the four nations to ensure consistency in standards and fan experience. The four associations have committed to close collaboration with FIFA and regional bodies to align with global guidelines and to contribute to an inclusive, safe event for visitors and locals alike.

Venue planning and legacy commitments

Organisers emphasize a diverse venue network that combines historic grounds with modern arenas to accommodate large crowds and varied atmospheres. The bid highlights a legacy component focused on grassroots development and improvements to women’s leagues and local infrastructure. This includes targeted investment in coaching, facilities, and youth participation to sustain growth well after the final whistle. The plan also calls for enhanced broadcasting reach and community programs designed to inspire a new generation of players, volunteers, and supporters. By embedding lasting improvements, the bid seeks to transform women’s football culture across the four nations.

Stadiums and Tickets

Stadium network

The bid outlines a network of 22 stadiums across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, chosen for their capacity, accessibility, and atmosphere. The spread is designed to balance large, iconic venues with regional grounds to maximise fan participation and local engagement. This multi‑venue strategy would enable games to be staged in several cities, increasing visibility and sponsorship opportunities while reducing travel burdens for fans. The proposal also underscores accessibility and spectator experience, with modern facilities and family‑friendly environments intended to welcome diverse audiences. The venue plan is central to the bid’s ambition of a truly nationwide event that resonates across communities.

Ticketing strategy

A cornerstone of the plan is broad ticket access, with roughly 4.5 million tickets expected to be made available to fans worldwide. The ticketing strategy emphasizes affordability, tiered pricing, and targeted campaigns to reach first‑time viewers and dedicated supporters alike. By distributing seats across a wide geographic footprint, the bid aims to generate sustained interest and repeated attendance across multiple matches and venues. The approach aligns with the desire to create a festival atmosphere that supports local economies, regional media coverage, and long‑term growth in women’s football.

Impact on Women’s Football

Legacy in grassroots and leagues

The 2035 Women’s World Cup bid places a strong emphasis on lasting impact beyond the tournament itself. Investments promised in grassroots football are designed to bolster youth programs, coaching pipelines, and female participation at every level. By strengthening domestic leagues and improving facilities, the bid seeks to create sustainable improvements that empower players and coaches, raise standards, and broaden the talent pool. The focus on long‑term infrastructure paves the way for a more competitive women’s game nationally, regionally, and internationally, helping to normalise women’s football as a central part of the sport’s future.

Diversity, inclusion and reach

Broadcast reach, sponsorship engagement, and inclusive fan experiences are highlighted as core values of the bid. By prioritising diverse representation, the four nations aim to attract a wide audience and expand sponsorship opportunities. The plan includes accessible matchday experiences, community events, and digital programs designed to engage fans from all backgrounds. In this sense, the 2035 Women’s World Cup bid is positioned not only as a competition but as a catalyst for greater equality and visibility in football culture across the UK and Ireland.

Timeline and Next Steps

Evaluation stage and inspections

The bid will progress through FIFA’s evaluation stage, which may include inspections and formal reviews over the coming years. During this period, FIFA will assess venues, transportation, accommodation, and operational readiness, alongside social and economic impact projections. The four associations are preparing detailed documentation and site visits to demonstrate feasibility, safety, and alignment with global standards. Success at this stage will depend on clear milestones, transparent governance, and robust community engagement that reflects the needs and hopes of fans across all four nations.

Future milestones and approvals

Pending positive evaluations, formal approval could follow in the subsequent years as part of FIFA’s bid cycle. The process will require close coordination with national governments, local authorities, and stakeholders to secure support and funding where needed. If approved, the bid would set in motion a phased plan to develop facilities, finalize schedules, and launch broad campaigns to populate stadiums and broadcasters with compelling content. The joint bid recognizes that long‑term development depends on patience, collaboration, and sustained investment.

Fan Engagement

Community and inclusion

Fan engagement sits at the heart of the 2035 Women’s World Cup bid. The plan includes outreach programs, fan zones, and inclusive experiences designed to welcome families, new audiences, and communities traditionally underrepresented in football. By working with schools, clubs, and local organizations, the bid seeks to ignite passion for the sport while ensuring accessibility and affordability. This approach reinforces the message that hosting the event is as much about people as it is about stadiums and schedules.

Digital reach, sponsorship and media

Digital platforms will play a significant role in galvanising global audiences. The bid outlines comprehensive media rights strategies, social campaigns, and partnerships with broadcasters and sponsors to broaden participation. A strong emphasis on high‑quality production, multilingual coverage, and interactive fan experiences aims to translate interest into lasting support for women’s football. Together with robust offline activities, the combined strategy is designed to grow the sport’s profile in the UK, Ireland, and around the world.

For more context on how hosting might transform women’s football, see FIFA and ongoing coverage from BBC Sport.