Wrexham have been linked with hosting matches during the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup – but there may be a sticking point.
The UK is the only bidder for the 2035 edition of the tournament, and Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground has been identified as potentially one of the two Welsh stadia to stage matches.
However, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will need to get some more building work under way if they are to meet current FIFA requirements for major tournaments.
At the moment, FIFA require a bid to propose a minimum of eight stadia, with each of those stadia to be all-seater and with a minimum capacity of 20,000.
The Racecourse Ground, meanwhile, currently holds only 10,500, as construction work is in progress to build a new 7,750-capacity Kop Stand, set to be completed next summer when the ground is due to host matches for the UEFA Under-19 European Championship, including the final.
However, that will take the stadium capacity only to 18,000.
Reynolds and McElhenney’s legacy for Welsh football
It seems that Reynolds and McElhenney are not averse to more building work taking place, though, suggesting last year that they were looking at increasing the capacity to “between 45,000 and 55,000”, and appointing architects Populous to create plans.
And the FAW are delighted that Wrexham are looking so far ahead.
“The Kop development is a significant first step and the vision for the stadium is incredible,” FAW chief executive Noel Mooney said this week.
“What Ryan and Rob are doing is amazing. They are looking to look to invest in the stadium and build up the Cae Ras, which is the oldest international ground in the world, and there is a potential North Star for them.
“The city and the club have a chance to bring a World Cup to North Wales. What a story that would be. What a legacy for Ryan and Rob to leave Wrexham.”
The history of the Racecourse Ground
As Mooney mentioned, the Racecourse Ground – or Cae Ras in Welsh – is billed as the world’s oldest international football stadium still in continuous use. It was the venue for Wales’s first-ever international home match when they played Scotland on 5th March, 1877.
It had previously been used for other sports including horse-racing, and Wrexham moved in to play their first match at the ground in October 1864.
The next Women’s World Cups
Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with Mexico and the United States hosting in 2031.
The UK’s formal bid to host the 12th edition of the tournament will be submitted in November, with FIFA’s decision due to be made early in 2026. All four home nations should then automatically qualify.
