FIFA Expands Women’s World Cup to 48 Teams

Beginner Level | May 22, 2025

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FIFA Women’s World Cup Expansion: A Bigger Stage for Women’s Football

FIFA has officially announced that the Women’s World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams—starting in 2031. This big decision was made to support the rapid growth of women’s football around the world and to give more countries a chance to join the tournament. The FIFA Women’s World Cup expansion is one of the biggest moves in the history of women’s sports.

What Will Change with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Expansion?

The new format will include 12 groups of four teams. That means there will be over 100 matches, and the tournament will last one week longer. FIFA says this change will help more teams get international experience and grow their football programs at home.

Where Will It Happen?

The 2031 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by the United States. In 2035, the United Kingdom will host the tournament. Both countries are strong supporters of women’s sports and have big stadiums and great fans.

Why It Matters

FIFA President Gianni Infantino explained that the goal is not just to add more teams, but to support more countries in building strong women’s football programs. Groups like FIFPRO (the global players’ union) said this change is a good step forward—but they also want FIFA to keep listening to players and teams around the world.

Looking at the Past and Future

The last Women’s World Cup in 2023 was a big success. Teams from all over the world did well. For the first time, teams from every region won at least one game. Five different regions reached the knockout stage. The 2023 tournament proved that the women’s game is growing fast—and more countries are ready to compete.

Vocabulary

Tournament (noun): A sports competition with many teams.
Example: The tournament will have 48 teams in 2031.
Expand (verb): To make something larger or bigger.
Example: FIFA wants to expand the Women’s World Cup.
Format (noun): The way something is arranged or organized.
Example: The new format has 12 groups of four teams.
Host (verb): To provide the location for an event.
Example: The U.S. will host the 2031 World Cup.
Supporter (noun): A person or group who helps or believes in something.
Example: The UK is a strong supporter of women’s football.
Experience (noun): Knowledge or skill gained from doing something.
Example: New teams will gain experience by playing internationally.
Knockout stage (noun): The part of a tournament where losing means elimination.
Example: Five regions reached the knockout stage in 2023.
Global (adjective): Related to the whole world.
Example: Women’s football is growing on a global scale.
Stakeholder (noun): A person or group involved in a decision.
Example: FIFA must consider all stakeholders before making changes.
Milestone (noun): An important event or stage in development.
Example: This expansion is a major milestone for women’s sports.

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

How many teams will be in the new Women’s World Cup?
Why did FIFA decide to expand the tournament?
Which countries will host the next two World Cups?
What are some benefits of including more teams?
How did the 2023 World Cup show global growth?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

Have you ever watched a women’s football match?
Why do you think women’s sports are getting more attention now?
How can more countries support women athletes?
What are the challenges for new teams joining a big tournament?
What sports are popular in your country for women?

Related Idiom

“Level the playing field”

Meaning: To make things fair for everyone.

Example: Expanding the World Cup helps level the playing field for more teams.

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