The UK has included Old Trafford, Manchester United's home stadium, in its bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup. Despite plans for a new 100,000-capacity stadium being announced by the club, Fifa deemed the proposals insufficiently detailed and therefore considered the existing stadium as an alternative. The stadium would be used in its current form if redevelopment plans are not completed.
The bid, which includes other stadiums such as Birmingham City's Powerhouse Stadium and Wembley, stands unopposed for now and could be ratified by a vote at Fifa congress next year. A joint statement from the CEOs of England's, Scotland's, Wales', and Northern Ireland's football associations emphasized that hosting the tournament would boost the women's game globally.
Fifteen stadiums were listed in total, with 16 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland. However, not all stadiums have been confirmed for inclusion, such as Stok Cae Ras in Wrexham, which does not currently meet Fifa requirements but is expected to be redeveloped.
A final decision on the host cities is likely to take place after Fifa holds on-site visits in February and publishes an evaluation report in March. The tournament would involve 104 matches over 39 days, with 48 teams competing in a format similar to the men's World Cup.
The bid highlights the UK's commitment to leaving a lasting legacy for women's football, according to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. England head coach Sarina Wiegman also emphasized that hosting the tournament would have a broader impact on society beyond just the sport itself.
Fifa has stated that it will hold off on making a final decision until at least 2031, due to the complex process of evaluating all the submitted stadiums and ensuring they meet Fifa's standards.
The bid, which includes other stadiums such as Birmingham City's Powerhouse Stadium and Wembley, stands unopposed for now and could be ratified by a vote at Fifa congress next year. A joint statement from the CEOs of England's, Scotland's, Wales', and Northern Ireland's football associations emphasized that hosting the tournament would boost the women's game globally.
Fifteen stadiums were listed in total, with 16 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland. However, not all stadiums have been confirmed for inclusion, such as Stok Cae Ras in Wrexham, which does not currently meet Fifa requirements but is expected to be redeveloped.
A final decision on the host cities is likely to take place after Fifa holds on-site visits in February and publishes an evaluation report in March. The tournament would involve 104 matches over 39 days, with 48 teams competing in a format similar to the men's World Cup.
The bid highlights the UK's commitment to leaving a lasting legacy for women's football, according to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. England head coach Sarina Wiegman also emphasized that hosting the tournament would have a broader impact on society beyond just the sport itself.
Fifa has stated that it will hold off on making a final decision until at least 2031, due to the complex process of evaluating all the submitted stadiums and ensuring they meet Fifa's standards.
So like, I know some ppl might be all like "but what about the stadium? won't it get lost in the redevelopment?" 
And yeah, that's a valid concern... but like, think of it this way - Old Trafford's been around for ages and it's already got so much history and atmosphere. It'd be kinda cool to keep some of that old-school charm, you know? 
Plus, it's not like they're gonna make any drastic changes or anything... just a bit of tweaking here and there. The ladies would still get to play in front of all those amazing fans, and the stadium would still have its iconic vibe. 
. Old Trafford might not be the prettiest stadium, but having a major tournament there could really put Manchester United on the map, you know? The fact that FIFA likes the bid so much they’re willing to consider using the existing stadium is just a win-win for the club and their fans 
And what about Stok Cae Ras in Wrexham? They say it doesn't meet Fifa requirements, but aren't they gonna make some changes to fit the bill? 
How much is all this gonna cost, and where's the money coming from? 
I'd love to see more info on that before I get on board with this bid.
it seems like the whole bid is just about promoting women's football globally and leaving a positive legacy, which is awesome 
. and i love that sarina wiegman emphasized how this tournament will impact society beyond just sports 
. 100,000-capacity stadium plans for man united though... sounds like they're gonna need a serious budget boost 
it would be amazing to see so many top-notch stadiums across the UK used.
. The fact that Fifa has agreed to hold off on making a final decision until at least 2031 shows they're being thorough and taking this seriously 
️. In the meantime, using the existing stadium would be better than not having it used at all 
.
. Let's get ready to cheer on our teams and make some unforgettable memories 
I don't get why the UK is so desperate to host this thing. Like, Old Trafford has been around since forever, it's not like they're gonna renovate it or anything 
. 100k capacity sounds nice but what about all the money it's gonna cost? It's not just the UK that's gonna foot the bill, is it? 
I guess 100,000 seats would be awesome though 
And I'm curious about Stok Cae Ras in Wrexham, what's going on with that place? 