News / Football
Bristol could bid to host 2035 women’s football World Cup
Bristol City Council could soon bid to host matches for the women’s football World Cup in 2035 at Ashton Gate Stadium. The tournament is likely to be held in the UK as the country is the only one bidding.
The council would recruit a team of staff to help coordinate the operation, as this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup was “challenging” to deliver with existing levels of staff. A fan zone would be set up on Queen Square to meet the requirements of being a host city.
The bid will be considered by councillors on the strategy and resources policy committee on Monday. A report to the committee revealed the plans, and gave details of how the tournament could benefit Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
Ashton Gate hosted some key matches for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in September
The report said: “The UK is the only bidder to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup. There is therefore a very strong likelihood the UK will be successful in its bid. The World Cup promises to be one of the biggest sports tournaments in the world and bigger than the Olympics.
“The economic benefit this would bring to Bristol would be enormous, and given this would be on the world stage, it would have a lasting legacy. Not progressing with the bid will mean Bristol will miss out on one of the largest sports tournaments in the world and certainly one that the UK has hosted.”
The costs of being selected as a host city have not been made public. But there would likely be a huge boost to the local economy, including with hotels and pubs as thousands of football fans flock to Ashton Gate.
The last women’s World Cup was hosted in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, when England narrowly lost 1-0 to Spain in the final.
The next World Cup will be hosted in Brazil in 2027. This year, the Lionesses won the Women’s Euros, beating Spain on penalties in a tense final.
Also this year, Ashton Gate hosted two quarter-finals and both the semi-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Visit West said that Bristol’s local economy was boosted by hosting some of the matches, “cementing Bristol’s position as a world-class host city for major international sporting events”.
Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
All photos: Martin Booth
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