Man United, Wrexham, and Birmingham Stadiums Selected for 2035 Women's World Cup Hosting

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Manchester United's proposed stadium has been selected as a venue for the 2035 Women's World Cup. The redeveloped Wrexham Racecourse Ground and Birmingham's planned Powerhouse Stadium are also part of the UK's official bid, announced on Friday (November 28).

In total, 16 host cities have been included in the joint bid by the football federations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The UK was anticipated to be named the host of the tournament, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggesting in April that there was only one "valid bid." The United States expressed interest in hosting the 2031 event. Manchester United's inclusion in the bid, after being excluded from the UK and Ireland's plans for the men's 2028 European Championship, shows the club's confidence in completing what it calls the "world's greatest" football stadium by then.

Stadium Developments and Future Plans

United's new stadium is estimated to cost around £2 billion ($2.6 billion) and could be ready by the 2030-31 season. The UK bid stated that the intention is for this new stadium to be considered for FIFA's approval once plans are confirmed. Meanwhile, Wrexham is redeveloping its stadium to increase capacity to 18,000. The club, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, plans further expansion before 2035 to meet FIFA standards.

Birmingham recently unveiled plans for its new 62,000-seater stadium, which could be completed by 2030. Chelsea is also included in the bid despite Stamford Bridge not meeting FIFA's technical requirements. Its inclusion depends on redevelopment or a new venue being built. Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Everton are among 21 stadiums listed as potential venues.

Historical Context and Future Aspirations

Outside of England, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Glasgow will serve as host cities. England hosted the men's World Cup in 1966 when its national team won the tournament. The Women's World Cup would follow the UK and Ireland's joint hosting of the 2028 men's Euros. "Hosting the FIFA Women's World Cup would be a huge privilege for our four home nations," said a joint statement from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland federations.

"If we are successful, the 2035 tournament will be the biggest single-sport event held on UK soil with 4.5 million tickets available for fans." England hosted and won the women's Euros in 2022. The Lionesses retained their title this year. "The Lionesses' success has inspired girls across our country," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"We'll build on that momentum by welcoming millions of football fans from around the world to a tournament that will benefit communities and businesses in host cities across the UK," added Starmer.

With inputs from PTI