La FIFA aprueba ampliar a 48 equipos en la Copa Mundial Femenina de 2031.
The International Football Federation (FIFA) has unanimously decided to expand from 32 to 48 the number of teams participating in the Women’s World Cup in its 2031 edition, after consulting with the most interested confederations and parties and seeing «recent advances made by women’s football.»
This was expressed this Friday by the FIFA Council on its website. «The decision, taken in a virtually organized meeting, will significantly expand representation, offering various nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investments in women’s football,» said the press release.
The World Cup with 48 teams, according to the same press release, «will adopt a format of 12 groups, increasing the total number of games from 64 to 104 and extending the tour over a week.» «The organization’s requirements for the 2031 and 2035 editions of the Women’s World Cup have been accordingly adjusted,» said the official statement.
Therefore, FIFA stated in its note that it «will continue to collaborate with the relevant parties involved in the consultation process to address their feedback.» Then, FIFA President Gianni Infantino appreciated this increase in competitive selections for the final phase of the World Cup.
«It’s not just about having 16 more teams playing in the World Cup, but also about the next steps regarding women in general, ensuring that various FIFA member associations have the opportunity to benefit from the tournament to develop women’s football structures,» he said in this regard.
Not surprisingly, the 2023 World Cup that crowned Spain as champion was the first edition in which teams representing all confederations won at least one match and also where teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage.
«Among many other records, it has set a new standard for global competitiveness. This decision ensures that we maintain the momentum in the growth of women’s football worldwide,» FIFA added in its press release for the 2023 tournament.
The Council also approved FIFA’s action strategy for Afghan women’s football, which aims to create a team for Afghan refugees and «grants that do not meet FIFA’s administration note the organization and facilitation of their operations to start their activities as soon as possible.» FIFA collaborates directly with relevant players,» the press text appeared.
«This is a historic initiative,» added the president of the main international football entity. «FIFA is committed to giving all girls the opportunity to play football,» Infantino said.
As part of its commitment to addressing racism in football and in accordance with what was adopted by the 211 member associations of FIFA at the 74th Congress, the Council unanimously approved the revised version of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, including «a comprehensive set of proactive regulatory measures aimed at countering discriminatory behavior.»
«The Revised Disciplinary Code represents a radical change in FIFA’s goal to improve its regulatory framework to process and sanction discrimination and racist abuses in cooperation with our 211 FIFA member associations,» concluded the statement.
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