UK to host Women's World Cup for first time ever in 2035 as rivals drop out to leave England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as sole bidders

• e-mail

The UK will host the Women's World Cup for the first time ever in 2035 after a rival bid from Spain, Portugal and Morocco dropped out. 

The English football association joined Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in bidding for the tournament. England is expected to have the most venues in the four-nation bid, with Wembley Stadium earmarked as the venue for the final.

The four nations have already joined forces to host Euro 2028, while England hosted and won the Women's European Championships in 2022.

English FA chief Mark Bullingham said: 'We are honoured to be the sole bidder for the Women’s World Cup 2035. Hosting the first World Cup since 1966 with our home nations partners will be very special. 

'The hard work starts now, to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year.'

The UK emerged as the sole bid after the uncertainty that surrounded whether the three-nation coalition of Spain, Portugal and Morocco had met FIFA's deadline for expressions of interest on Monday. 

The UK has been confirmed as the hosts for the 2035 Women's World Cup after it emerged as the sole bidder

It will be the first time the United Kingdom has staged the biggest tournament in women's football

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland joined the four-nation bid for the tournament

The president of the Spanish FA (RFEF), Rafael Louzan, said his association was 'working on' a joint bid with the countries that are also due to co-host the 2030 men's World Cup. 

Only countries in Europe or Africa could bid for the tournament because of FIFA's rotation rules. Brazil will host the 2027 World Cup while the United States, which pulled out of the bidding process for that tournament, is the favourite to be host for 2031. 

At the launch of the UK's bid earlier this month, Bullingham claimed that the success of the European Championship in 2022 proved the UK's ability to stage the World Cup. 

'Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035 would be an honour,' he said. 

'We strongly believe that we could organise a fantastic tournament, building on the success of the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022 and the subsequent rapid growth of the women’s game in England.

'We’re excited about the opportunity to welcome the world, and hosting participating nations and fans in sold-out stadiums.

'There is outstanding support for the women’s game in this country and we want to maximise this, not only for women’s and girls’ football here but also for the benefit of the global game.'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the Government have backed plans to bid for the tournament, which he said could be a 'monumental moment in our sporting history'. 

Earlier this month, English FA chief Mark Bullingham claimed that the successful Women's Euro 2022 proved the nation's ability to host the World Cup

England hosted the 2022 Women's European Championship, which the Lionesses won at Wembley

'Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035 would be an honour,' he said.

'We strongly believe that we could organise a fantastic tournament, building on the success of the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022 and the subsequent rapid growth of the women’s game in England.

'We’re excited about the opportunity to welcome the world, and hosting participating nations and fans in sold-out stadiums.

'There is outstanding support for the women’s game in this country and we want to maximise this, not only for women’s and girls’ football here but also for the benefit of the global game.'

The Women’s European Championships in 2022 marked the second time England had held the continental tournament after 2005, but a Women’s World Cup has yet to be held in the UK.

England have previously bid twice to host the men’s World Cup for the second time after 1966, but failed in the bid process for the 2006 and 2018 tournaments.