Manchester United’s New Stadium Could Host 2035 Women’s World Cup Matches

Wembley Stadium and a new venue for Manchester United could become the highlights of the 2035 Women’s World Cup, following FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s announcement that the United Kingdom is the sole contender to host the event.

Infantino stated that there are no competing bids for the tournament, marking the first time a football World Cup will be held in Britain since 1966. The Football Association anticipates that Wembley will be the site for the final match, although FIFA will have the final say. If completed as planned, United’s new stadium, expected to hold 100,000 spectators, could also play a significant role in the tournament.

Mark Bullingham, the FA’s CEO, mentioned that discussions will take place with Manchester United to determine if their stadium can be included in the formal bid submission set for November. “We’re going to have conversations with them and work out if they can be part of it or not,” he stated.

“We’ve got a number of different stadia being built in the country, potentially Man United, potentially Birmingham, and with a 10-year horizon you’ve got to work out exactly where you’ll be then. There will be lots of conversations to be had, understanding timescales for stadium builds, understanding what people want and knitting that together.”

Bullingham made these remarks during Uefa’s annual congress in Belgrade, where Infantino’s morning announcement captured the attention of delegates, overshadowing the governing body of European football. Infantino also revealed plans for Fifa to increase the Women’s World Cup to 48 teams, aligning it with the revamped men’s tournament starting in 2031. Bullingham expressed confidence that the UK would be prepared to host such a large-scale event.

“We’re really well set up for that,” he said. “You’ve then got to have 16 stadiums. We’d be happy either way, but we’d be really comfortable with 48 teams. It just creates more impact across the whole country.”

Games are expected to be held at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, although Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground will likely become an option location following renovations. Bullingham stated that the task of expanding Belfast’s Windsor Park, which has a capacity of 18,500, to the required 20,000 could be “easily achieved.” Hampden Park is the clear choice to lead Scotland’s part of the bid.

The clear path to hosting the tournament is a significant advantage for the FA, which had been uncertain about a competing bid from Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. While the deadline for expressing interest closed on Monday, it wasn’t until early Thursday that FIFA provided clarity on the situation. Infantino also identified the US, likely with other Concacaf members, as the sole contender for the 2031 tournament. Concacaf encompasses North and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.

In 2022, England successfully hosted the Women’s European Championship, which was won by Sarina Wiegman’s team. However, the country faced setbacks in its attempts to host the men’s World Cups in 2006 and 2018, losing to Germany and Russia, respectively. The men’s European Championship in 2028, set to take place across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, could bolster England’s chances for the 2035 event.

Wiegman, who has been preparing her side for Friday’s match against Belgium, was among those to hail the announcement. “Of course it’s really good news and it will be great if the tournament is held here,” she said. “We know from the experience of the Euros how big the game is already here and what that momentum did in this country and also worldwide. It is the biggest female event we have in the world. It is so exciting.”

Leah Williamson, the captain of the Lionesses, shared her enthusiasm, reflecting on the remarkable success of Euro 2022. “Having experienced the home tournament and how lucky we are, it’s exciting as players to know that’s on the horizon,” she said. “I think the commitment from the FA about how we push the game on says a lot about how much we care about women’s football here. I think 2022 was a great demonstration of that intent.”

The bid has received full support from the government, with Keir Starmer emphasizing its potential to bring about significant change. “Today’s excellent news marks a significant milestone towards the UK once again hosting the World Cup, while also fostering growth and prosperity,” the prime minister stated. “Our daughters could be the ones on the field in 2035, representing our nation in football. The economic advantages of hosting a major tournament like this are immense and cannot be overlooked.”

The UK’s bid must be ratified at Fifa’s congress in 2026. Government guarantees around tax issues and security are required to be provided to Fifa by the end of this month.