The Women's World Cup has been identified as a major tournament that Britain could potentially aim to host over the next 15 years.
The Games are listed as one of 70 major events the UK aims to stage between now and 2040 “to maintain our position as the world's leading host nation”.
The 2031, 2035 or 2039 Women's World Cup are the tournaments identified as potential targets.
A list of future major tournament opportunities has been published by UK Sport, the government-funded body responsible for investing in and supporting Olympic and Paralympic sport and leading the way in hosting major sporting events.
The Men's Rugby World Cup, World Athletics Championships, Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and Tour de France are also on the list.
UK Sport has described the Women's World Cup as “the biggest global sporting event the UK has ever hosted”.
The venue for the 2027 Women's World Cup will be decided in May 2024, which will have an impact on which tournaments Britain will be able to compete in in the future.
Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have launched a joint bid to host the 10th Games in 2027. It opposes a joint bid by South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States.
Spain to host Women's World Cup in 2023 (Casa de SM el Rey/Spanish Royal Family, Getty Images)
Britain will be unable to host the 2031 World Cup if Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands bid successfully In Europe, it is not possible to hold two consecutive tournaments. So we will have to wait until 2035.
Simon Morton, Deputy Chief Executive and Events Director at UK Sport, said: “Live sport is a fundamental part of the social fabric of this country.
“Over the next few years, we want to host a program of live sport that resonates with the British public and makes a difference to the lives of millions of people. We need to make it more accessible to people and communities across the country.”
England hosted the Men's World Cup in 1966 and unsuccessfully bid to host the 2018 tournament. A joint bid by the UK and Ireland for the 2030 Games was withdrawn in 2022, and attention instead turned to the Euro 2028 bid, which was ultimately successful.
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England has hosted two senior women's international major football tournaments, hosting the Euros in 2022 and 2005.
In May 2023, Football Association (FA) president Debbie Hewitt confirmed that England were considering bidding for the 2031 Women's World Cup.
Mr Hewitt told the Times:
“It has such a positive impact on the country and the communities that take part.Why not have the ambition to host a Women’s World Cup, especially as the women’s game is growing?
“We should always be looking at the next match and what we can do to put ourselves in a good position. The Women's World Cup is a very attractive project.”
(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
