The football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have jointly submitted a bid to host the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2035 under the 'All Together' vision. The proposal includes 22 stadiums across 16 host cities, aiming to make it the most accessible tournament yet with 4.5 million tickets projected. If successful, it would be the UK's first World Cup since 1966.
The FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA and FA of Wales officially submitted their joint bid on November 30, 2025, positioning the event as the largest single-sport gathering on UK soil. The bid envisions 104 matches involving 48 teams over 39 days, with 63 million people within two hours of a proposed venue. Organizers project 4.5 million ticket sales and a global audience exceeding 3.5 billion.
A joint statement from the CEOs emphasized the opportunity: “Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup would be a huge privilege for our four home nations. If we’re successful, the tournament will be the biggest single-sport event held on UK soil, with 4.5 million tickets available. We are proud of the growth that we’ve driven in recent years across the women’s and girls’ game, but there is still so much more potential. This tournament would play a key role in helping us deliver that. Working with FIFA, we believe a Women’s World Cup in the UK has the power to turbocharge the women’s and girls’ game both nationally and globally.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer supported the initiative, stating: “Our bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup shows the UK’s passion for football. The Lionesses’ success has inspired girls across the country. We want to build on that momentum by welcoming millions of fans from around the world.”
Proposed Venues
The 22 stadiums blend historic and modern facilities across 16 cities: in England (16 venues including Wembley, Emirates, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Etihad, Villa Park, Amex Stadium, Ashton Gate, Elland Road, Anfield as Hill Dickinson Stadium, St James’ Park, City Ground, Stadium of Light, Selhurst Park, a future Chelsea stadium or Stamford Bridge, a proposed new Old Trafford, and Birmingham’s Sports Quarter Stadium); Wales (3: Cardiff City Stadium, Principality Stadium, redeveloped SToK Racecourse in Wrexham); Scotland (2: Hampden Park in Glasgow, Easter Road in Edinburgh); Northern Ireland (1: Windsor Park in Belfast). FIFA would select 14-16 if approved.
Legacy Commitments
The bid focuses on three pillars: participation to increase access in under-represented communities; leadership to empower women, double female officials by 2035, and provide global mentoring; and commercial growth to attract fans, partners, and reinvest in grassroots and elite pathways. Additional infrastructure includes 48 team base camps, 82 training sites, and 32 fan festival sites. The decision is expected at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver in April 2026.
