Ma Dexing: The 2031 Women s Football World Cup will be expanded to 48 teams, and there may be 8 participating places in Asia

May 11th According to reporter Ma Dexing, in the early morning of May 10, the 32nd meeting of the FIFA Council unanimously passed the resolution to expand the Women's World Cup. From the 11th Women's World Cup in 2031, the participating teams will be increased from 32 to 48, and Asia may have 8 participating seats at that time.

Two years ago, at the Women's World Cup co-sponsored by Australia and New Zealand, FIFA expanded the participating teams from 24 teams in the 2019 French World Cup to 32 teams, which also reduced the viewing of the Women's World Cup group stages, because the gap between strength and weakness is very obvious. However, FIFA President Infantino does not believe that this will affect the development of the world women's football. Instead, he believes that the increase in the number of teams participating in the World Cup will further encourage subordinate member associations to comprehensively develop women's football.

Infantino said: "This not only means that there will be 16 more teams participating in the Women's World Cup, but will also push the development of the world's women's football to another stage. From a historical perspective, it ensures that more member associations can benefit from the current structural development of women's football."

Moreover, Infantino further explained to this decision to expand the army: "In the 2023 Women's Football World Cup, participating teams from all continents won at least one game, and the teams entering the knockout stage are from the Football Federations of five continents, and of course, there are other records in the birth. All of these have brought the development of global women's football sports to a new stage, so the decision to expand this army can maintain the further development of global women's football sports."

According to the latest resolution of the FIFA Council, after the expansion of the Women's Football World Cup in 2031 is still a group of 4 teams, divided into 12 groups. This also increases the total number of women's World Cup games from the current 64 games to 104 games, and the entire match period is also extended by one week compared to the past. Correspondingly, the bidding requirements and standards for the 2031 and 2035 World Cups will also be adjusted. However, during this meeting, FIFA did not make a clear decision on the allocation of seats and quotas on each continent.

At the 10th Women's World Cup in 2027, Asia will have 6 seats, Africa will have 4 seats, Central and North America and the Caribbean, South America will have 3 seats, Oceania will have 1 seat, and Europe will have 11 seats. In addition, each continent will generate 3 seats through the transcontinental play-offs. After the expansion of the 48th team, Asia should be able to add two more directly to advance seats, but this will not have any impact on the Chinese women's football team.