U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson has said he is in favor of expanding the Women’s World Cup yet again.
The 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand was the first time 32 teams participated, with the competition expanding from 24 teams.
But with the men’s tournament set to feature 48 teams for the first time in 2026, The Athletic reported this week that FIFA is open to the possibility of expanding the women’s competition again.
The expansion wouldn’t happen in time for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, but it could take place prior to the 2031 tournament. After dropping its joint bid with Mexico to host in 2027, the United States is considered to be among the favorites to host in 2031.
With the U.S. co-hosting the men’s tournament in 2026 alongside Mexico and Canada, the country could be set to host both the first men’s and women’s World Cup featuring 48 teams.
“We’re actually huge proponents of also expanding the Women’s World Cup,” Batson said in an interview with CNN. “We think sending that signal around the world to where more countries can have an opportunity to go play in and potentially to win a World Cup will lead to more and more investment, which (is) going to benefit more and more kids around the world.”
Some critics felt that expending the women’s tournament to 32 teams would water down the competition, leading to too many blowouts and unappealing games. But the 2023 competition put those fears to rest, making Batson bullish that another expansion would be successful.
“There was a lot of noise coming into the last Women’s World Cup that the expansion would lead to somehow a substandard tournament,” he said. “It was quite the opposite.”
