Japan’s ambition to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup was thwarted this week when FIFA announced that only countries from North America and Africa would be eligible to bid for the event.
The decision, unveiled on Wednesday, also revealed that Europe and Africa would compete for the 2035 tournament.
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, President of the Japan Football Association, voiced his disappointment over the news, acknowledging the setback but reaffirming Japan’s ongoing commitment to advancing women’s football.
Miyamoto had previously spoken about Japan’s aspirations to host the 2031 tournament in a bid to elevate the status of women’s football in the country.
Despite this blow, he emphasized that Japan would continue to focus on expanding participation and improving the sport’s standards.
Having won the Women’s World Cup in 2011, Japan now faces a wait until at least 2039 before they can make another attempt to host the tournament.
However, Miyamoto remains hopeful for future bids, expressing confidence that Japan will consider competing for the 2039 event and beyond.
In the meantime, Brazil has been officially confirmed as the host for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
