Women's World Cup to be expanded to 32 teams by 2023
July 31, 2019
FIFA say the next Women's World Cup will feature an additional six teams. After the success of this year's tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees now as the time to 'foster the growth of women's football'.
Image: Reuters/L. Nicholson
Advertisement
FIFA's Council unanimously approved the decision to stage a 32-team World Cup in 2023 on Wednesday but made no mention of changing prize money.
The organization's leader, Gianni Infantino, called France 2019 "the best ever" but wants to change the format before the next edition of the tournament.
"The astounding success of this year's World Cup made it very clear that this is the time to keep the momentum going and take concrete steps to foster the growth of women's football," he said.
"I am glad to see this proposal, the first of several, becoming a reality," added Infantino, who has succeeded in expanding the men's tournament from 32 teams to 48 in time for the 2026 finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
That was only the second tournament to be played by 24 teams after it expanded from 16 in time for the Canadian World Cup eight years ago.
FIFA has yet to select a host for the 2023 event. The nine candidates are Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand and South Korea, potentially with North Korea.
While FIFA made no mention or confirmation of additional prize money for future competitions on Wednesday, Infantino has previously promised to double the prize fund for the next Women's World Cup.
US women's soccer team celebrates World Cup victory in New York
The victorious US women's soccer team have basked in a ticker tape parade in New York. Co-captain Megan Rapinoe led the festivities, saying the team would continue to fight for social justice issues.
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/J. Angelillo
'Women's rights icons now'
To chants of "equal pay," the US women's soccer team paraded the World Cup trophy through New York's financial district. In a fever pitch of global interest, the team beat The Netherlands 2-0 in the final. "The level of interest and excitement is much higher from four years," said Jessica Lappin, president of the parade's organizers. "That's partly because they're women's rights icons now."
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/J. Angelillo
Taking the lead
In a fiery speech at the parade, celebrated co-captain Megan Rapinoe described her squad as a mixture of all sorts of characters. But Rapinoe, an outspoken gay activist who has called for greater equality for women, urged supporters to engage their communities at a deeper level. "We have to be better, love more and hate less," Rapinoe said. "This is everyone's responsibility."
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Ruttle
Up four the fight
Player of the tournament Megan Rapinoe holds aloft the trophy as teammates celebrate the fourth World Cup triumph by the US women's team. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio presented the ceremonial keys to the city to the players, and stars Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd thanked the country for supporting the team.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/R. Drew
Fighting for equality
Despite their successful performance over the past decades, women do not earn the same on international duty as the US men's team. In March, the women's team sued the US Federation for equal pay. "They play the same game that men soccer players play. They play it better, with better results," said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. "If there's any economic rationale, the men should get paid less."
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/C. Ruttle
'No' to the White House
Even before US President Donald Trump extended an invite to the team, Rapinoe had said she would decline. In an interview on Tuesday, she said she didn't believe anyone else would accept. "I would say that your message is excluding people," she said when asked if she had a message for Trump. "Maybe America is great for a few people right now, but it's not great for enough Americans in this world."
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/J. Angelillo
Down the hatch
Megan Rapinoe pours champagne as the United States Women's Soccer team ride up the Canyon Of Heroes at a Ticker Tape Parade in New York City. Team USA started celebrating the back-to-back World Cup victories on Sunday. In 2015, they beat Japan in the final, whom they had lost to four years earlier.
