FAI not part of collective UK bid for 2035 Women's World Cup

Lansdowne Road will stage six games of the next men’s Euros in 2028 but they’re not part of this latest alliance.

BRITAIN-BOUND?: Spain players and staff members celebrate winning the FIFA Women's World Cup final match at Stadium Australia, Sydney. Picture date: Sunday August 20, 2023.

The FAI won’t be replicating their collective bid with the UK nations for another tournament as they’re not part of the tilt at hosting the 2035 Women’s World Cup.

Lansdowne Road will stage six games of the next men’s Euros in 2028, with potential for another match after Belfast’s Casement Park was ruled out due to delays, but they’re not part of this latest alliance.

The Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will collectively submit an expression of interest to FIFA for the United Kingdom to host the Women’s World Cup in 2035.

It is anticipated that the next tournament, the 2027 Brazil-hosted showpiece, will be last as a 32-team format, with 48 nations involved by the time of 2035.

Belfast’s 18,000-capacity national stadium, deemed insufficient by UEFA to stage men’s fixtures, meets the FIFA criteria for this event. The announcement follows today’s decision by the FIFA Council to recommend that the 2035 tournament is hosted in Europe or in Africa. The declaration of interest will be submitted to FIFA in the first quarter of 2025.

The bidding timetable was announced by FIFA this afternoon, following a FIFA Council meeting, and bids for the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cup will be submitted during the fourth quarter of 2025, with a decision on both tournaments anticipated to take place during the second quarter of 2026.

Mark Bullingham, CEO of the English FA, commented: "Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035 would be an honour.

“We strongly believe that we could organise a fantastic tournament, building on the success of the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022 and the subsequent rapid growth of the women’s game in England. We’re excited about the opportunity to welcome the world, and hosting participating nations and fans in sold-out stadiums.

“There is outstanding support for the women’s game in this country and we want to maximise this, not only for women’s and girls’ football here but also for the benefit of the global game."

Patrick Nelson, CEO of the Irish FA, commented: "The Irish Football Association would be delighted to co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035.

“Women’s and girls’ football is growing rapidly in Northern Ireland and this opportunity to serve the world, coming on the day we launch our new women’s and girls’ strategy ‘Together we thrive - Elevating the game for everyone’ will encourage and excite even more girls to dream of wearing our green shirt on home turf at the greatest of all competitions."

Northern Ireland qualified for the last Euros, which was won by hosts England in 2022.