FIFA has confirmed that the Women's World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams beginning with the 2031 edition, aligning it with the men's format. The decision was announced on Friday by international football’s governing body.

The FIFA Council reached a unanimous agreement to enlarge the competition, citing "the remarkable recent strides made by women's football across the world" as the driving force behind the move.

Under the new structure, the tournament will feature 12 groups, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extending the event by an additional week, according to FIFA.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the expansion builds on the momentum generated by the 2023 Women's World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand, where Spain emerged victorious.

“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the first in which teams from all confederations secured at least one win and five confederations were represented in the knockout stages—among many other records—set a new benchmark for global competitiveness,” Infantino remarked. “This decision ensures we maintain the momentum in the growth of women’s football worldwide.”

The 2027 tournament, set to take place in Brazil and marking the 10th edition of the competition, will retain the 32-team format.

FIFA has yet to finalise the host nations for the 2031 and 2035 editions. The United States, currently the sole candidate, is expected to host the 2031 tournament, while the United Kingdom—home to 2023 finalists England—is bidding for the 2035 event.

The men’s tournament will also expand to 48 teams for the first time with the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.