2031 Women’s World Cup: What We Know So Far
The 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup is still several years away, but some of the tournament’s most important details are already taking shape. It will introduce a larger field, more matches, and a joint hosting proposal that could spread the competition across four countries.
This guide covers what has been confirmed, what remains part of the bidding process, and what soccer travelers should understand before dates, cities, tickets, and travel packages are announced. It will be updated as FIFA releases new information.
Where could the 2031 Women’s World Cup be held?
The only submitted bid is a joint proposal from the soccer federations of the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica. If FIFA approves the bid, the 2031 Women’s World Cup would become another major multi-country tournament in the Concacaf region.
The lack of a competing bid makes the four-country proposal the clear path toward hosting, but it is still important to separate a submitted bid from a formal host appointment. FIFA must complete its evaluation and the member associations must approve the hosts.
Four proposed host countries
The joint bid includes the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.
Still pending
FIFA is scheduled to appoint the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cup hosts on November 23, 2026.
Why was the host decision delayed?
FIFA originally planned to appoint the 2031 and 2035 hosts at its Congress in Vancouver on April 30, 2026. That meeting took place, but the host appointments were not completed there.
FIFA later confirmed that a stand-alone virtual Extraordinary Congress would be held on November 23, 2026, specifically to appoint the hosts of the two future Women’s World Cups. Until that vote takes place, the proposed host countries should not be described as officially confirmed.
The 2031 Women’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams
One part of the tournament is already official: the Women’s World Cup will expand from 32 teams to 48 beginning in 2031.
FIFA has confirmed a 12-group format with 104 matches, increasing the tournament from the 64-match structure being used in 2027. The competition is also expected to last approximately one week longer.
48 national teams
Sixteen more teams will participate than in the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
104 matches
The expanded format will create more group-stage matches and a larger knockout bracket.
What has been confirmed and what is still unknown?
The tournament will expand to 48 teams arranged into 12 groups.
A total of 104 matches are planned, and the tournament will be approximately one week longer.
The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica submitted the only 2031 hosting bid.
The host countries have not yet been formally appointed by FIFA.
Final host cities, stadiums, tournament dates, and match assignments remain unknown.
Ticket-sale dates, official travel packages, the qualification schedule, and the tournament draw have not been released.
What could a four-country tournament mean for travelers?
A Women’s World Cup spread across the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica would create very different planning considerations from a tournament held within one country. Fans may need to decide whether to remain in one host region, follow a national team, or attend matches across multiple countries.
The practical travel picture cannot be evaluated until FIFA confirms the host cities and assigns matches. Distance, flight schedules, border entry requirements, hotel demand, and the spacing between matches could all influence which trip styles are realistic.
- Following one team may require flights between countries or widely separated cities.
- Remaining in one host region could provide a simpler and more relaxed experience.
- Knockout-round trips may be easier to plan once the bracket and host-city pathway are known.
- Hotels near major stadiums may tighten well before individual match tickets go on sale.
- Passport and entry requirements could vary based on the final itinerary.
When will the 2031 Women’s World Cup take place?
FIFA has not announced the tournament dates. The Women’s World Cup is generally staged during the middle of the calendar year, but no specific month or date range should be treated as final until FIFA publishes the official competition calendar.
The expanded 104-match format will add approximately one week to the tournament. That may affect the spacing between rounds, the length of team-following packages, and how much time travelers need to attend multiple stages.
When will tickets and travel packages become available?
No official ticket timeline has been released, and it is too early for confirmed match-specific travel packages. Host appointment, city selection, stadium confirmation, tournament dates, qualification, and the final draw all need to progress before detailed options become available.
For now, this article is intended as an early planning resource rather than a sales page. Travelers interested in a nearer tournament can review the confirmed dates, host cities, and current package information for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
How will qualification work?
FIFA has not yet published the complete qualification structure or the final allocation of places among the six confederations. Expanding from 32 to 48 teams means more countries will qualify, but the exact pathway for each region still needs to be confirmed.
The host qualification rules may also depend on whether FIFA formally approves all four proposed host countries and how automatic berths are assigned within a joint bid.
Why this tournament will be different from 2027
The 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil will be the final edition with 32 teams and 64 matches. The 2031 tournament begins a new era with 48 teams, 104 matches, and a potentially much larger geographic footprint.
That growth will create more opportunities for national teams and fans, but it may also make travel planning more complex. The eventual host-city map will be one of the most important announcements for anyone hoping to attend.
Frequently asked questions
Explore the 2027 tournament in Brazil
The 2031 details are still developing, but the 2027 Women’s World Cup already has confirmed dates, host cities, and travel package options.
