Portugal, Spain, and Morocco unite for 2039 Women’s World Cup bid

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) announced its intention to collaborate with Spain and Morocco to submit a joint bid for the 2039 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This strategic move follows England's selection as the host for the 2035 edition, as confirmed by UEFA.

In an official statement, the FPF emphasized its commitment to organizing the tournament alongside its Iberian and North African partners. This announcement comes after an earlier bid for the 2035 World Cup was abandoned when UEFA aligned with England’s proposal.

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Rafael Louzán had previously expressed the ambition to co-host the 2035 event with Morocco and Portugal. However, this bid faced immediate challenges, as UEFA officials were reportedly caught off guard by the announcement, having already committed to England's solo candidacy.

UEFA sources indicated that the simultaneous participation of the three nations in hosting the 2030 men’s World Cup rendered the 2035 bid unfeasible. Consequently, officials opted to redirect their focus towards enhancing women’s football and exploring the 2039 opportunity.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed at the 49th UEFA Congress in Belgrade that England was the only valid European bid for 2035. Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive of the English FA, expressed enthusiasm about hosting the tournament, highlighting the significance of this event as the first World Cup in England since 1966.

The renewed focus on the 2039 bid underlines the established collaboration among Portugal, Spain, and Morocco for the upcoming 2030 men’s World Cup. Notably, Spain ranks second in FIFA's women’s rankings, while Portugal stands at 22nd and Morocco at 60th.

Spanish women's national team coach Montse Tomé had previously supported the idea of hosting the tournament, sharing her excitement about the potential of bringing the Women’s World Cup to Spain. Her experiences at the 2019 World Cup in France highlighted the increased attention and support for women's football.

The selection process for the 2035 World Cup host will conclude during FIFA’s 76th Congress in the second quarter of 2026, marking a unique instance in which the hosts for both the 2031 and 2035 tournaments will be decided simultaneously. Currently, the United States and Mexico are the only bidders for the 2031 event.