Nottingham to bid to host FIFA Women’s World Cup

Nottingham will bid for a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to be a host city for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035.

In July, Nottingham City Council submitted an expression of interest to be one of 20 shortlisted cities in the UK – the only country bidding to host the tournament.

The authority’s plan to put a bid forward was approved at a council meeting on Tuesday, with the final selection of between 14 and 16 host cities expected to be made by FIFA in 2030.

But the plans rely on Nottingham Forest’s redevelopment of the City Ground to meet stadium requirements.

“If this redevelopment does not take place or is delayed, the opportunity to host the tournament in the city would not be possible,” council documents stated.

The plans, which were approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council in the summer, will see the existing Peter Taylor Stand demolished and replaced with a 10,000-seater stand, increasing the City Ground’s overall capacity to 35,000.

Labour Leader of the council Neghat Khan said hosting the Women’s World Cup had the potential to bring more than “£20m in economic benefit”.

The council must now sign the FIFA host city agreement by 31 October and the bid will be formally submitted to FIFA on 28 November.

FIFA will make a decision on the UK’s bid – the only bid to host the tournament – by April 2026.

It has been 69 years since England hosted a FIFA World Cup and 29 years since Nottingham hosted a major international football tournament – Euro 96.

The tournament will take place over 39 days and will be made up of 48 national teams.

It is expected that Nottingham would host seven matches if it were to be selected.

Khan said: “We’re committed to working with partners across the city to ensure Nottingham is ready to take full advantage of this opportunity.

“Whilst we’re proud to be considered as a potential host city, we fully respect that if the UK is successful in its bid to host the tournament, it will be FIFA who decides which host cities are selected.

“For now, we’re focused on showing how ready and enthusiastic we are to play our part in what could be a truly historic event.”

Colin Parr, the council’s corporate director for communities, environment and resident services, said hosting the tournament was a “tantalising prospect for the city”.

“It will hopefully inspire a generation of women and girls to be the next generation of Lionesses,” he added.

The government is expected to contribute 55-60% of host city costs.