The FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA and FA of Wales have officially submitted their joint bid for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035.
The tournament would be the largest single-sport event ever staged in the UK, and the first FIFA World Cup hosted in the country since 1966.
The bid includes 22 proposed stadiums – 16 in England (including Nottingham’s City Ground), three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland – across 16 host cities. With 63 million people living within two hours of a proposed venue, it would be the most accessible tournament ever.
The tournament promises to be a celebration across every part of our nations – an event that brings communities together and welcomes the world. With 4.5 million ticket sales and a projected global TV audience of 3.5 billion, the tournament would captivate fans at home and globally.
The bid is built on the powerful vision of “All Together” – a rallying cry for women’s football and sport more broadly to empower worldwide.
Cllr Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council said: “We’re incredibly excited that Nottingham is one of the potential host cities for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035. The power of women’s football to inspire communities, celebrate diversity, and create lasting legacies is something we’re passionate about, particularly following the success of the Lionesses in recent years. This bid represents a fantastic opportunity to showcase Nottingham’s sporting heritage on a global stage, celebrating football and community pride.
“With the potential to bring over £20 million in economic benefit and to showcase Nottingham to millions around the world, our ambition is clear – to see our city play its part in a truly world class sporting event. We’re committed to working with partners across the city to ensure that Nottingham is ready to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I am thrilled by the prospect of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales hosting the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The submission of the formal bid to FIFA marks a significant milestone on the journey to making this vision a reality.
“For Nottingham, the chance to be named a host city could be truly transformative – bringing lasting benefits not only to the city itself but to the wider East Midlands region and far beyond. Hosting matches here would provide a major boost to our visitor economy, attracting fans from across the globe to experience everything our fantastic region has to offer – from world-class sporting facilities and vibrant cultural attractions to stunning countryside and historic landmarks. This influx of visitors would support local businesses, create jobs, and showcase the East Midlands as a destination of choice for tourism and investment.
“I am excited to continue working alongside Nottingham City Council and our partners to transform this remarkable opportunity into a lasting reality.”
The 22 proposed stadiums offer a blend of heritage, cutting-edge innovation and elite operational excellence that will be ready to deliver exceptional FIFA-compliant facilities. The 16 host cities provide a network of extensive infrastructure, ample accommodation, efficient transportation and culture.
The tournament would involve 104 matches contested by 48 teams over 39 days, with 48 team base camp training sites, 82 venue-specific training sites and 32 FIFA Fan Festival Sites proposed.
Passionate fans, strong media reach and innovative digital engagement not only ensure that this would be a successful tournament, but also provide a transformational commercial opportunity for global growth and reinvestment in the women’s game for the benefit of the wider FIFA family.
CEOs of The FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA and FA of Wales said: “Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup would be a huge privilege for our four home nations. If we are successful, the 2035 tournament will be the biggest single-sport event held on UK soil with 4.5 million tickets available for fans.
“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 growth to come, and this event will play a key role in helping us deliver that. Working together with FIFA, a Women’s World Cup in the UK has the power to turbo charge the women’s and girls’ game both in the UK and globally. Our bid also demonstrates our commitment to leaving a lasting legacy, in the run up to 2035, and the years afterwards.
“Together, we want to welcome the world to the UK to celebrate and enjoy an unforgettable tournament.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “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 our country, and we’ll build on that momentum by welcoming millions of football fans from around the world to a tournament that will benefit communities and businesses in host cities up and down the UK.
“With record investment in school sport and grassroots facilities through our Plan for Change, we’re creating opportunities for girls to play for their national team.”