Sports What will Emma Hayes create with USWNT backline vs. Brazil? (2:08)
Ali Krieger examines seemingly lineups USWNT manager Emma Hayes could well presumably deploy after an injury to Tierna Davidson. (2:08)
Jeff Kassouf
Apr 4, 2025, 09:59 PM ET
LOS ANGELES — U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson acknowledged the federation would strongly pork up growth of the Ladies folk’s World Cup to Forty eight teams in 2031.
U.S. Soccer submitted the handiest “valid bid” for the 2031 tournament sooner than FIFA’s deadline, FIFA president Gianni Infantino acknowledged on Thursday.
“Forty-eight teams is something that we’ve been passionate supporters for,” Batson informed a exiguous community of reporters Friday. “We think it would be incredible for growing the women’s game.”
Infantino has beforehand proposed the premise of expanding the competition to Forty eight teams. Batson acknowledged that “all signs are positive” for growth to Forty eight teams, and that U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone would spend her fresh seat on the FIFA Council to tell that pork up.
The USA is predicted to co-host the 2031 Ladies folk’s World Cup with different Concacaf nations. Batson acknowledged that the amount of teams participating in the tournament will dictate which different nations be half of the U.S. as hosts.
Mexico beforehand joined the U.S. in a 2027 Ladies folk’s World Cup joint characterize that used to be finally deserted to enable the U.S. to focal level on 2031. Brazil will host the 32-group 2027 tournament.
The UK submitted the handiest “valid bid” to host the 2035 Ladies folk’s World Cup. FIFA had beforehand voice geographic restrictions on which continents could well presumably host every match.
The Ladies folk’s World Cup expanded from 16 to 24 teams in 2015, then expanded to 32 teams in 2023.
The 2026 Men’s World Cup, that shall be co-hosted by the U.S., will aim Forty eight teams for the principle time.
“One of the things we hear from folks who lead federations around the world is they view the Women’s World Cup as an opportunity for them to, one, make a World Cup and, two, really go compete in a way that conceivably they wouldn’t be able to on the men’s side,” Batson acknowledged. “So, what this would lead to in terms of spurring investment all around the world in women’s and girls’ soccer, we think would be incredible.”
The U.S. hosted the 1999 and 2003 editions of the Ladies folk’s World Cup, the latter by emergency due the SARS epidemic in China, the usual host for that 365 days. Canada hosted the 2015 Ladies folk’s World Cup.
Each Batson and NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman frail the time duration “catalyst” in describing the opportunity to host the 2031 tournament.
“I think to the extent people see the Men’s World Cup as a catalyst for the growth of men’s soccer here, the Women’s World Cup being here in 2031 is directly a catalyst for growth,” Berman informed ESPN, referencing 1999 as an inflection level.
“The idea that we actually will have a thriving league going into it and coming out of it, no doubt should create and incredible amount of excitement for the future of the NWSL and we absolutely will capitalize on it.”
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes described a 2031 World Cup in the U.S. as “dreamland,” citing the existing infrastructure for subsequent 365 days’s Men’s World Cup, that will moreover occur in Mexico and Canada.
Hayes, who grew up in England but started her legit coaching occupation in the U.S., expressed pleasure for each and each 2031 and 2035.
“It’s fair to say, in whatever capacity — fan or coaching — I will for sure be at those World Cups,” Hayes acknowledged.