Izhar Khan / AFP
The women’s football world Cup will go from 32 to 48 teams from 2031, FIFA announced. (Illustration during the 2023 edition final)
Sport – a way to greet the ” progress “ International women’s football. The Women’s Football World Cup will go from 32 to 48 teams, such as male competition, from its 2031 edition, the International Federation (FIFA) announced this Friday, whose council made this decision unanimously.
In a press release, the body says it has taken into account “Remarkable progress made recently by women’s football around the world”. Like men, who will compete in a first world at 48 (in the United States, Canada and Mexico), the Queen women’s test will grow from the tournament planned in 2031 in the United States.
The decision was expected since the president of FIFA Gianni Infantino announced it at the last UEFA congress in April in Belgrade. It was formally adopted at a last videoconferencing meeting before the 75th congress which begins next Thursday in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay.
A way to “accelerate investments in women’s football”
“It’s not just a question of having 16 additional teams […] But to take a new step in the development of women’s football in general ”said Gianni Infantino, quoted in the press release. He wishes “Than more […] members have the opportunity to take advantage of the tournament to develop their own women’s football structures ”.
That more teams can “Access the elite competition” will allow“Accelerate investments in women’s football around the world”specifies FIFA. The next edition of the Women’s World Cup in 2027 in Brazil remains at 32 teams. The following editions could be held in 2031 in the United States, the only candidacy for the time being, and in 2035 in the United Kingdom, which presented a file.
To organize the event, the United States could associate with “Some other members of the Concacaf”the Confederation of Central, North and Caribbean America, had told Belgrade Gianni Infantino, like the three of the male World Cup. For 2035, the English Federation will be associated with those of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
New measures against racism
In addition, the FIFA Council has adopted new measures against racism in the discipline code, notably raising the amount of maximum fines, which goes from one to five million Swiss francs. The federations will also have to put their own disciplinary code in compliance, and FIFA may appeal to the Sports Arbitral Tribunal (CAS) if they believe that national sanctions are insufficient, as is the case in terms of doping.
The FIFA Council has also approved the support strategy for Afghan footballers, which provides for the creation of an Afghan women’s female team (AWRT). FIFA “Collaborate directly with the players concerned”said the press release. The International Federation “Gets to give each girl the opportunity to play football”the souliné Infantino White.
To see also on The HuffPost :
Reading this content is likely to lead to a deposit of cookies from the third -party operator who hosts it. Given the choices you have expressed in terms of cookie deposit, we have blocked the display of this content. If you want to access it, you must accept the category of “third-party content” cookies by clicking on the button below.
Read the video
