ZURICH: FIFA is considering expanding the next Women’s World Cup to 32 teams from 24 for the next edition in 2023 and doubling prize money, Gianni Infantino, president of world football’s governing body said Friday.
Infantino said FIFA will increase its investment in women’s soccer worldwide to $1 billion over the next four-year cycle.
“I want to expand the tournament to 32 teams,” the Swiss-Italian told a news conference. “We will have to act quickly to decide if we are to increase it for 2023, if we do we should reopen the bidding process to allow everyone to have a chance or maybe co-host. Nothing is impossible.”
The FIFA Council, made up of 37 members, is due to vote on the host for the 2023 tournament next March.
There are already nine countries interested in bidding, including recent men’s World Cup hosts Brazil and South Africa.
Infantino hailed the tournament in France (USA and The Netherlands face off Sunday in the finals) as “the best women’s World Cup ever” and said it was an opportunity to build on the game worldwide.
“(I would like to see) a Club World Cup for women starting as soon as possible next year or the year after,” Infantino added.
“We need a Club World Cup which can be played even every year to expose clubs from all other the world to make clubs invest even more in womens football to really shine in a world stage which is a real and true Club World Cup.”
