After expanding from 24 to 32 teams in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the 2027 tournament held in Brazil will still have the same number of teams. By 2031, the Women's World Cup will be on par with the Men's World Cup, with a total of 48 teams competing.
The 2031 tournament will be hosted by the US. The expansion of the scale not only increases the number of teams attending, but also requires more cities and stadiums to participate in the organization. Notably, the new format with 12 groups will increase the total number of matches from 64 to 104, which means extending the prize one more week compared to before.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino affirmed that this decision is not simply about adding 16 teams, but also opens up opportunities for developing football regions to invest more heavily in women's football. Meanwhile, FIFPRO also expressed its support, emphasizing that the expansion of the tournament is a testament to the progress of women's football, and called for improving competition conditions for players.
With this change, the teams in the mid-range and developing group, including the Vietnam women's team, will have more opportunities to participate in the most prestigious arena on the planet.
