In a recent announcement, the governing body of the sport revealed that bids for the 2031 hosting rights will be accepted from nations in Africa and Concacaf, the regional governing body for football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This decision marks a shift in focus for the upcoming tournament cycles.
The 2035 finals, on the other hand, will only consider bidders from Africa and Europe, leaving Asian federations, including Japan, with a longer wait until 2039 to host the prestigious event.
“We are deeply disappointed by the news as our sights were set on hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031,” expressed Miyamoto in a statement. “Nonetheless, this setback does not deter us from our commitment to grow women’s football in Japan, increase participation, and elevate the standard of competition.”
Japan has prior experience co-hosting the 2002 Men’s World Cup with South Korea, but the opportunity to host the Women’s World Cup has eluded them thus far.
The Japanese women’s team, affectionately known as the Nadeshiko, boasts an impressive resume on the international stage. They lifted the Women’s World Cup trophy in 2011 and finished as runners-up in the subsequent tournament in 2015.
Japan’s youth teams have also made their mark, consistently reaching the final of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup over the last three editions, showcasing a strong pipeline of young talent.
Miyamoto affirmed, “We are undoubtedly on the right path. With our sights set on hosting the Women’s World Cup post-2039, we will persist in our efforts to develop our women’s national teams across all age groups into competitive powerhouses and foster an environment conducive to women’s football excellence throughout Japan.”
The upcoming 2027 Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Brazil, marking the first time the tournament will be held in South America.
