FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed two future Women’s World Cup hosts at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade earlier today.

The 2031 event belongs to the United States, while the United Kingdom will host in 2035.

Infantino cited the UK “Home Nations” (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) as providing the only “valid bid” for 2035. The US submitted the sole bid for 2031 after ceding a prior campaign to host the 2027 tournament to Brazil.

“As part of the bidding process, we received one bid for '31 and one bid, valid bid, I should add for '35,” said the FIFA president.

“The path is there for the Women's World Cup to be taking place in '31 and '35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women's football movement.”

Mia Hamm #9 of the US kicks against the defense of Germany during the semifinals of the FIFA Women's World Cup match on October 5, 2003.
The US last hosted the Women's World Cup in 2003. (Ben Radford/Getty Images)

US set to host third global FIFA tournament

2031 will mark a record third US-hosted Women's World Cup after successful runs in 1999 and 2003.

The national federation confirmed its intent to submit a 2031 Women's World Cup bid early last month. The decision came soon after FIFA said the 2031 tournament must be played either in North America or Africa.

“We are excited about the opportunity to co-host the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup and, in collaboration with our Concacaf partners, are committed to delivering a tournament that leaves a lasting legacy,” U.S. Soccer posted. “One that elevates women's soccer across the world and inspires future generations of players and fans.”

Following a successful 2023 expanded tournament in Australia and New Zealand, 32 countries will again feature in the 2027 Women's World Cup. The competition is set to grow to 48 teams by the time the US hosts in 2031.

Women's World Cup hosts England celebrate with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy after their side's victory during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium.
First-time Women's World Cup hosts England won the 2022 Euros at home. (Lynne Cameron - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

UK to host first Women's World Cup in 2035

Unlike the US, the UK has never before welcomed the global women’s tournament. England did host the 2022 Women’s Euros, eventually winning the tournament on home soil.

2023 Women's World Cup winners Spain explored a late Women's World Cup bid in conjunction with Portugal and Morocco — their partners in hosting the 2030 men's event. However, FIFA quickly ruled out the possibility in favor of the UK's joint bid.

“Football is and always will be at the core of our country's identity,” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said last month.

“Whether we watch on TV, play at the weekends like I do, or simply enjoy soaking up the atmosphere in the pub, it brings communities together like little else. That pride was on full display when England hosted UEFA Women's Euro 2022. It not only showed the best of our nation to the world but inspired a generation of girls into the game, all whilst boosting the economy.”

FIFA confirmed that the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup will now kick off in 2028, officially delaying its original 2026 launch this week.

Instead, soccer's world governing body will introduce a new Champions Cup next year, with FIFA ratifying both events on Wednesday.

The alternate Champions Cup will be a smaller, six-club affair with winners from regional tournaments like the UEFA Champions League and Concacaf Champions League.

FIFA plans to make the Champions Cup an annual event set for every year that does not include the quadrennial Club World Cup.

While worldwide club tournaments are an exciting prospect, a crowded schedule, lack of secured funding, and little news of the proposed 19-team Club World Cup’s development prompted timing concerns as 2026 rapidly approaches.

Now kicking off in early 2028, the Club World Cup will initially begin with six top clubs representing the AFC, CAF, Concacaf, CONMEBOL, the OFC, and UEFA. Those teams will take part in the play-in stage, where three winners will advance to the group stage.

Those three clubs must then contend with five directly qualified UEFA teams, plus two direct qualifiers each from CAF, CONMEBOL, AFC, and Concacaf.

While demand for increased global programming is spreading, FIFA’s delay underlines the logistical hurdles of creating new competitions — not to mention the strain they can cause athletes.

"FIFA needs to involve its stakeholders, like the NWSLPA and NWSL, for an event like this to reach its potential," NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke told ESPN on Wednesday.

"Otherwise, they are hamstringing women's football yet again like they've done since time immemorial."

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UK takes aim at 2027 FIFA World Cup

In other international soccer news, the UK announced Wednesday that the country is preparing a bid to host the 2035 FIFA World Cup, with England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland joining forces in an attempt to bring the sport’s biggest event to the United Kingdom.

England’s track record should make the bid particularly attractive after hosting the 2022 Euro to record-shattering attendance and global viewership success — and seeing the home side emerge victorious in the Lionesses first-ever major tournament win.

"Football is and always will be at the core of our country’s identity," said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, throwing the government's full support behind the bid.

"That pride was on full display when England hosted the Women’s Euro 2022. It not only showed the best of our nation to the world but inspired a generation of girls into the game, all whilst boosting the economy."

Should FIFA ultimately award the 2035 hosting duties to the UK, that tournament will mark the first World Cup hosted by the nation since the men's 1966 edition.

With Brazil set to host the 32-team 2027 World Cup and the US expected to lead a serious bid for the expanded 48-team 2031 edition, the FIFA Council officially recommended this week that either African or European nations serve as host for 2035.

Two-time World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and three-time NWSL champion Becky Sauerbrunn announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday.

"This isn't the end. I'll be around. I love this game too much to leave it for good," the 39-year-old legendary USWNT center back wrote. "But for the first time in sixteen years I'm going to find a quiet moment and close my eyes for a bit."

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Leading from the back

A titan on and off the field, Sauerbrunn's 16-year professional career is littered with trophies earned for club and country.

Sauerbrunn, who notably opened her senior national team account with a broken nose in her January 2008 first cap, leaves the international pitch with 219 appearances, making her the USWNT's 10th all-time most-capped player.

Across the three World Cups and three Olympic Games in which she competed, Sauerbrunn helped the USWNT to a runners-up finish in the 2011 World Cup before snagging back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2019. In addition to 2012 Olympic gold and 2021 Olympic bronze, her US resume boasts eight straight Concacaf championships.

As part of a generation of players that founded the league, there has never been an NWSL season without Sauerbrunn logging minutes. The four-time NWSL Defender of the Year also earned annual Best XI selection seven times, more than any other player in league history.

Sauerbrunn began her 11 NWSL seasons with FC Kansas City, snagging a pair of championships in 2014 and 2015. She later spent two seasons with the Utah Royals before spending the last five on Portland's pitch, helping the Thorns to both the 2021 NWSL Shield and 2022 championship.

While executing her role as a fierce defender, the backline behemoth also served as captain of both the USWNT and Portland Thorns. A quiet leader, Sauerbrunn's calm, steady presence grounded her teams, anchoring them to trophy-lifting success.

USWNT Players Association president Becky Sauerbrunn signs the 2022 equal pay CBA as US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone looks on.
USWNT captain and USWNTPA president Sauerbrunn helped usher in equal pay for the USWNT in 2022. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

A legacy of activism and equal pay

Though her on-field prowess is impressive, Sauerbrunn's true legacy can be found off the pitch, where the defender consistently tackles social justice issues. Along with combatting racial and gender inequities, Sauerbrunn's activism includes fighting legislation that bans transgender girls and women from competing in women's sports.

Most tangibly, however, is how she helped change the game for current and future USWNT players. In 2016, Sauerbrunn and four other USWNT athletes kicked off the fight for equal pay by filing a federal complaint against US Soccer.

One 2019 class-action gender discrimination lawsuit and years of litigation later, Sauerbrunn and her teammates secured a landmark settlement with the federation in 2022, cementing equal compensation for both the USWNT and USMNT as a contractual rule. As the president of the player's association, Sauerbrunn was one of the athletes to physically sign the historic agreement — a document that sparked similar battles for equality worldwide.

Becky Sauerbrunn wears the captain's armband as she enters the field for a Portland Thorns match.
Sauerbrunn finished her NWSL career with the Portland Thorns last month. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)

The end of an era

With her Tuesday announcement, Sauerbrunn adds to the wave of soccer stars officially exiting the professional game in 2024. She follows Portland teammate and Canadian legend Christine Sinclair in hanging up her boots, and joins USWNT standouts Alex Morgan, Kelley O'Hara, and Alyssa Naeher in retirement.

Still offering sage reflections, the captain told US Soccer, "I learned early on that we were all just renting our jerseys. That I got to wear the US Soccer crest once was an honor and privilege for which I’m forever grateful. The fact that I got to do it over 200 times is truly humbling."

Ultimately, Sauerbrunn leaves the game better than she found it, stepping off the field with no regrets.

"Of course I’d do it all again," she writes. "In a heartbeat.”

In today’s episode, host Claire Watkins runs down the October roster for the USWNT, discussing comments from head coach Emma Hayes that lays out her vision for the team's long preparation ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

Later, Watkins marvels at yet another incredible 2024 WNBA Finals showdown, as the Liberty take a crucial 2-1 series advantage in their search for the franchise's first WNBA Championship title.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

Just Women’s Sports is here with your daily World Cup Digest, breaking down all of the biggest storylines from each day of action in Australia and New Zealand.

Today’s top World Cup story: Sweden escapes upset thanks to 90th minute goal

Sweden pulled off a dramatic, come-from-behind victory on Sunday in its World Cup opener against South Africa. Amanda Ilestedt scored the game winner in the 90th minute to secure a 2-1 victory and 3 points for Sweden, ranked No. 3 in the world.

While Sweden controlled possession for much of the game, No. 54 South Africa nearly pulled off a major upset in rainy and misty conditions at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.

Three minutes into the second half, and with Swedish players looking as if play hadn’t yet resumed, South African striker Hildah Magaia capitalized on a rebound to make it 1-0. But Magaia injured herself in the process, falling hard into the back of the net, and was ultimately subbed out a few minutes later.

Sweden notched the equalizer in the 66th minute. A cross in the box initially appeared to ricochet off the foot of a defender, but the goal was ultimately credited to Fridolina Rolfo.

With the two teams even, Ilestedt notched the game winner in the 90th minute, capitalizing off of the 11th corner of the night and heading the ball past the fingers of goalkeeper Kaylin Swart. (A video highlight of the game winner is embedded below.)

South Africa managed to secure a corner during the six minutes of injury time that followed, but couldn’t find the equalizer.

With the win, Sweden continues its group play streak. The Swedes haven’t lost a group game at the Women’s World Cup since 2003. Meanwhile, South Africa — which made its Women’s World Cup debut in 2019 — is still searching for its first ever point after losing all three group stage games four years ago.

In the lead-up to this year’s Women’s World Cup, the South African team — nicknamed Banyana Banyana — boycotted a World Cup send-off game, citing issues with its federation after a $30,000 FIFA payment had not been included in player contracts. Ahead of their tournament opener against Sweden, South African captain Refiloe Jane told reporters that disputes with the federation had been resolved prior to players arriving in New Zealand.

Today’s World Cup results

  • Sweden 2, South Africa 1
  • Netherlands 1, Portugal 0
  • France 0, Jamaica 0

More World Cup news

  • Jamaica held France to a scoreless draw, a remarkable performance for a Jamaican team that criticized its federation ahead of this year’s tournament, citing issues with training facilities and compensation.
  • In yet another close game, the Netherlands, the 2019 runner-up, defeated World Cup debutant Portugal, 1-0. The game winner, scored by Stefanie van der Gragt, came in the 13th minute.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is underway. To help you stay up-to-date on news, game schedules, roster updates and more, Just Women’s Sports has created this World Cup hub. Make sure to bookmark this page so you can keep tabs on the latest news and updates from Australia and New Zealand.

Latest World Cup News

July 23, 2023:

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How to Watch the 2023 World Cup

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup began on July 20 and runs through August 20. A complete tournament schedule can be found here.

WWC Scouting Reports

Who made the 2023 U.S. World Cup roster?

Here is the U.S. Soccer roster for the 2023 Women’s World Cup:

Goalkeepers (3)

Defenders (7)

Midfielders (7)

Forwards (6)

If you want to learn more about the 23 players who made the USWNT by experience level or their NWSL team, we’ve got you covered:

What about WWC rosters for the rest of the world?

Which USA players are missing the Women’s World Cup?

Injuries have sidelined quite a few players from this summer’s tournament, while other athletes have fallen out of favor with the national teams since the 2019 World Cup. Here are a few resources on the topic:

Who are the USWNT captains?

With Becky Sauerbrunn absent due to injury, U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski selected Lindsey Horan and Alex Morgan to serve as co-captains. Read more about their selection here.

For the latest news and analysis, follow our dedicate homepages for the USWNT and the Women’s World Cup.

2023 Women’s World Cup Groups and Tournament Format

The Women’s World Cup field expanded from 24 teams to 32 teams for 2023. The 32 teams are split into eight groups of four:

  • Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland
  • Group B: Australia, Ireland, Nigeria, Canada
  • Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia, Japan
  • Group D: England, Denmark, China, Haiti
  • Group E: United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Vietnam
  • Group F: France, Jamaica, Brazil, Panama
  • Group G: Sweden, South Africa, Italy, Argentina
  • Group H: Germany, Morocco, Colombia, South Korea

The top two teams from each group will advance to a 16-team bracket for the knockout rounds. More information about the tournament format and tie breaking procedures can be found here.

South Africa’s women’s national soccer team — known as Banyana Banyana — boycotted Sunday’s World Cup send-off game at Tsakane Stadium in Brakpan, South Africa.

Multiple issues — from World Cup compensation to field conditions to the quality of the opponent — have been cited as reasons for the boycott.

SABC Sport, a division of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, reported that players boycotted the send-off match against Botswana after they demanded that their national federation — the South American Football Association (SAFA) — provide a more suitable venue for the friendly game, like one that was used for the 2010 FIFA (Men’s) World Cup.

“The players said they want to discuss (issues) with (SAFA). Firstly, there are conditions of employment and issues such as health and safety at Tsakane Stadium, where the pitch is not okay. We’ve raised this issue with them, and they said they will revert,” South African Football Players’ Union president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe told SABC Sport.

The field at Tsakane Stadium reportedly does not meet FIFA standards and South Africa’s Premier Super League teams do not play games at the venue as a result.

South African players also reportedly took issue with the quality of their opponent; Botswana is ranked 150th in the World and has never qualified for the Women’s World Cup.

In a video posted to the Players’ Union twitter account, World Cup compensation is also cited as one of the sticking points for the World Cup players.

SABC Sport reported that the South American Football Association (SAFA) threatened to send players home if they didn’t compete. When the World Cup players refused to back down ahead of the game, SAFA quickly assembled a back-up team to play the game.

“I had to put a team on the field so I put a team on the field today,” South Africa’s head coach Desiree Ellis told SABC Sport, though she deflected questions about the boycott and situation with the federation.

After a one-hour game delay due to the turmoil, the back-up team went on to lose to Botswana, 5-0.

South Africa’s World Cup send-off match was only confirmed days ago. “We just want to thank the Football Association getting us a send-off match. We know it has been a difficult task, we are really grateful and we ask the fans to come out in their numbers to support this team and to give us a fantastic send-off,” Ellis said in a press release announcing the game.

USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn confirmed she will miss this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“Heartbroken isn’t even the half of it. But that’s sports for you and that’s life, really,” the two-time World Cup champion wrote on Twitter following a report by The Athletic.

Sauerbrunn, 38, has been dealing with a foot injury for the last two-plus months. She said she “hoped and worked and hoped” to make it back in time for the World Cup, but that there was ultimately “too much variability in my return to play timeline.”

With 216 appearances for the USWNT, Sauerbrunn would have been the most capped player on this year’s roster. After making her World Cup debut in 2011, she played every minute of every match at the 2015 World Cup and six of seven matches at the 2019 World Cup. She was a vocal leader in the USWNT’s campaign for equal pay and has also used her platform to combat racism, homophobia and transphobia.

True to form, Sauerbrunn concluded her tweet by offering a message to her USWNT teammates.

“To my teammates, I love you,” she wrote. “Please, take a minute to enjoy this moment and appreciate everything that brought you here—every second of hard work and every bit of good luck—and then get back to work and go win the whole f*cking thing!”

The 2023 World Cup is on pace to break the attendance record for a women’s sports event after surpassing 1 million tickets sold with six weeks remaining until the tournament kicks off in Australia and New Zealand.

As of Thursday, FIFA had sold 1,032,884 tickets for the tournament, which begins on July 20, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an Instagram post. That number is more than double the total from January, when FIFA said it had surpassed 500 thousand tickets sold.

The tournament is expected to break the attendance record for a standalone women’s sports event, set at the 2015 World Cup in Canada, which attracted 1.35 million spectators. The tournament already has surpassed those from the 2019 World Cup in France, which brought in 1.13 million people.

“The future is women, thanks to the fans for supporting what will be the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup ever!” Infantino said in a statement. “The momentum is building in the host countries and across the globe, and I look forward to seeing you there to witness the stars of women’s football shine on the world stage.”

FIFA has moved Australia’s opening match against Ireland on July 20 to the 83,500-capacity Stadium Australia, the largest stadium in the tournament. The move came as a result of what FIFA described as a “significant interest in tickets.” Australia’s opener was slated for Sydney Football Stadium, which holds approximately 45,000 spectators.

Fans from more than 120 countries have purchased tickets, and the United States ranking in the top 10 in ticket sales at the start of the year, per FIFA.

Balancing being a teenager and the next up-and-coming star for the U.S. women’s national team can be difficult. Luckily, Alyssa Thompson has some help.

The USWNT has called up the 18-year-old a handful of times in the past year, including as an injury reserve in April when Mallory Swanson went down with a patella tendon tear. With a spot on the U.S. World Cup team this summer a strong possibility, Thompson has focused on adjusting to the international environment.

Playing with Angel City in the NWSL, the 2023 No. 1 draft pick has a number of national team stars to help her along, including Christen Press, Sydney Leroux and Julie Ertz, who signed with the team in April. New Zealand defender and ACFC captain Ali Riley is also a great resource.

“All the players on my team have been super helpful with just trying to help me know what to expect with international play,” Thompson said. “They really helped me just know what my goal is and tell me what it takes to get there and all the extra details that it takes.”

Angel City has also prioritized setting Thompson up for success in her rookie season. That means making sure she isn’t falling behind in school or missing out on being an 18-year-old.

“For us, it’s about putting her in the best position for success,” head coach Freya Coombe said. “I think it’s about how we use her in games to keep her fresh and to keep her enjoying the moment, enjoying the sport.

“I think it’s also about working collectively with her support network and managing her school schedule versus training when we’re putting meetings in the week, when we’re asking her to do extra, limiting the amount of additional activities that are non-essential for the club. I think that so far, we’re doing a good job of being able to manage that as a collective group.”

So far, Thompson has thrived in the pro environment. She leads Angel City with three goals in six games, having started five of them.

“She’s been playing really well. I think that we are seeing some variations of her game in terms of the spaces that she’s attacking and where she’s looking threatening,” Coombe said.

“I think that we are seeing her develop in a defensive capacity and seeing her both sides of the ball and her defending increasing and being better as the weeks go on.”

Being in consideration for the USWNT’s World Cup roster meant Thompson skipping the U-20 Concacaf championship, where her younger sister Gisele will represent the U.S. beginning May 24 in the Dominican Republic.

“There is obviously conversation. But right now, while she’s playing as many minutes as she is for us, we’d like to think that she’s still being considered for the senior team,” Coombe said. “I think the decision was made for all of us that she stays in the club environment.”

Thompson isn’t the only teenager to miss the tournament. The San Diego Wave also held back 18-year-old forward Jaedyn Shaw after a “very open conversation” with head coach Casey Stoney. Shaw has started all six of the Wave’s regular season games and is second on the team with three goals.

“It’s my choice not to release her,” Stoney said. “She’s wanted by the national team. Unfortunately, they don’t run through FIFA windows. And even if they did, the FIFA windows here aren’t even respected. We’ve got six key players out with injuries. It’s my job to look after the club.

“We just can’t release her right now. She’s a starter for us, she’s a main feature. She’s been a key player for us this season and we can’t afford to miss her during this period.”