Birmingham Council says hosting the tournament would be a chance for Brum to again showcase itself on a global stage
Alexander Brock Local Democracy Reporter
05:27, 17 Oct 2025
Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo during the Euros 2025 final(Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Birmingham hosting the Women’s Football World Cup in 2035 could provide a huge financial boost of £100 million, the city council has said.
The tournament is set to be held in the UK after Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the country was the sole “valid” bidder for the sporting event.
Birmingham Council has now confirmed that it has plans to bid to become one of the World Cup’s host cities in 10 years’ time, adding it could bring numerous benefits.
READ MORE: Birmingham Council ‘incredibly excited’ to potentially host matches for 2035 World Cup
The local authority said in a report that there could be an economic boost of more than £100m for Birmingham by hosting the event.
“The host city and region will have further opportunities to maximise the positive economic impact,” it continued.
“Beyond the stadia there will be requirements for training venues, hotels, increased throughput at the airport and the opportunity to bid to become the International Broadcasting Centre.”
The council went on to say that major events also help attract regional, national and international visitors, both around the event itself but also in the longer-term.
“They raise awareness of Birmingham as a potential destination through domestic and international media and digital coverage,” it said.
England’s Lionesses celebrate after winning the 2025 Euros(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
“This event will see 300,000 ticket holders come to the city over 39 days, 50,000 of these will be from overseas.”
Other benefits identified by the council include:
- Opportunities for the hospitality, wider night-time economy and retail sector.
- A chance for the city to once again showcase itself on a global stage.
- Being able to build on the “legacy for physical activity and sport in the city”.
- A share of the 31,000 jobs which could be created across England.
But the council does acknowledge that it’ll be competing against many other cities and “first-class football stadia” to become one of the host cities.
“However, its proven track record of delivering major sporting events and its fantastic transport links and good infrastructure puts it in a strong position to be one of the final English host cities selected,” it said.
Birmingham is set to host European Athletics Championships, the Invictus Games and the 2028 Men’s Euros over the next three years.
Where in Birmingham would the event be held?
The council report says a number of stadiums within England have gained “preferred status”, with the expectation that around three quarters of them will ultimately be selected by FIFA to be final venues.
It confirmed that Birmingham has two stadiums that have made this shortlist.
While these venues are not directly mentioned in the report, it does note that Aston Villa and Birmingham City have been involved in the bid.
“FIFA are expected to make an announcement on the award of the event in the spring of 2026,” the council said. “However, the current timeline does not have them confirming the final details of which stadia will be selected until 2030/2031.”
The host city will also be expected to provide a FIFA Fan Festival which needs to be close to the city centre and be able to hold around 10,000 spectators, the council says.
Victoria Square in Birmingham city centre
“The city does not have one outdoor central location that can accommodate this scale of audience and so is proposing a split site across both Centenary and Victoria squares,” it continued.
“But by 2035 there may be other sites to consider such as Festival Square (due to come in line in Smithfield) or even indoor sites, which we expect to utilise for the UEFA EURO 2028.”
The proposed bid to host the Women’s World Cup will be discussed by Birmingham Council cabinet members at a special meeting on Monday, October 20.
“We’re incredibly excited about the possibility of being part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035,” a council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Monday.
“The power of women’s football to inspire communities, celebrate diversity, and create lasting legacies is something we’re passionate about.
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“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.”