34 years after the inaugural tournament, then called the FIFA Women’s World Championship, was held in China in 1991, Africa now has a real shot at hosting the global showpiece.
This follows the announcement of key decisions on women’s competitions taken by the World Football Governing body, FIFA.
On 5 March 2025 the FIFA Council approved the bid regulations for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup which restricted bids to CONCACAF and CAF members.
For the 2035 edition CAF members will battle UEFA members for a chance to host the tournament.
“Taking into account the countries that have previously hosted the tournament and that Brazil will be hosting the upcoming edition in 2027, the FIFA Council took the following decisions:
- FIFA Women’s World Cup 2031: FIFA Member Associations affiliated to CAF and Concacaf are invited to bid for the 2031 edition; and
- FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035: FIFA Member Associations affiliated to CAF and UEFA are invited to bid for the 2035 edition.”
Africa had yet to host the tournament with UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF hosting 3 tournaments each while
Meanwhile CONMEBOL and OFC have hosted it once each.
In October 2023, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa declared an interest to bid for hosting the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, following Morocco’s selection of hosting 2030 FIFA World Cup and the debut performance of their women’s team in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
On 24 November 2023, the South Africa Football Association announced the withdrawal of its bid for the 2027 edition in favor of a 2031 bid.
South Africa has previously hosted the 1996 AFCON, 2000 WAFCON, 2004 WAFCON, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2010 WAFCON, 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2011 U-20 AFCON, 2013 AFCON, and the 2014 CHAN.
The Copper Queens made their debut at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and will be looking to return in 2027 and 2031.
