A redeveloped 100,000-seater Old Trafford is reportedly set to be included on the Football Association’s proposed list of stadiums for the 2035 Women’s World Cup.
New Old Trafford set to host matches at 2035 Women’s World Cup
The Guardian have reported that the new Old Trafford stadium will be included on the FA’s list, with the plans set to be made public this week.
This is despite doubts over how the £2 million project will be funded and when the stadium will be completed.
Described as the “Wembley of the North” by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club have reportedly set their sights on hosting the final in 2035.
The United Kingdom is the sole bidder for the tournament in ten years, but must submit a formal bid to FIFA.
Around 15 stadiums will be required across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the bid book, which is not binding.
FIFA will officially announce the hosts of the 2035 Women’s World Cup on April 30, 2026. They will also announce the hosts of the previous tournament in 2031, where the sole bidders are the United States, Mexico, Jamaica and Costa Rica.
Final decisions on stadiums and scheduling will not be made until 2030.
Will the new Old Trafford be ready in time?
Manchester United hope to have the new 100,000-seater stadium completed in time for the 2030-31 season.
The BBC have reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s timescale is still valid, but acknowledged the potential delays around such a complex plan.
There are some obstacles to overcome as they look to secure government funding for the £4.2bn regeneration of the wider Old Trafford area.
They are also looking to purchase adjacent land to Old Trafford from haulage company Freightliner.
However, the Greater Manchester Growth Plan included backing for the new Old Trafford project.
Collette Roche, Manchester United Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to see the Old Trafford Regeneration project at the heart of Greater Manchester’s wider growth plan for the next decade.
“We want to build the world’s best football stadium as a new home for Manchester United and a venue fit for the biggest international events, including the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, surrounded by a vibrant business, leisure and residential district served by excellent transport links.”
Which other stadiums could be on the Women’s World Cup list?
Sky News have reported that Wembley is set to be the preferred venue to stage the Women’s World Cup final over the new Old Trafford.
Birmingham City’s new 62,000-seat stadium could also be included. This comes after plans were unveiled last week for it to be built in the next five years.
A host of cities have revealed their intentions to stage games, with Brighton being the most recent.
Cities that could host 2035 Women’s World Cup matches
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Brighton and Hove
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- Wrexham
