ZURICH (AP) – The Women´s World Cup will increase to 48 teams in 2031 when the United States is expected to host the tournament, FIFA confirmed Friday.

FIFA has wanted to expand the women´s tournament from 32 teams to match the men´s World Cup which has 48 teams for the first time next year, when the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
The decision follows one month after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said it had just one candidate bidding for each of the 2031 and 2035 women´s tournaments – the U.S. followed by the United Kingdom. FIFA is expected to confirm these two hosts next year.

Brazil will host a 32-team Women´s World Cup in 2027.

FIFA said the bigger, 104-game tournament with 48 teams “will significantly broaden representation, offering more nations and players access to elite competition and accelerating investment in women´s football worldwide.”

The Women´s World Cup had just 16 teams as recently as the 2011 edition in Germany, 24 teams at each of the next two tournaments in Canada and France, then 32 teams for the first time in 2023 co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The 2023 edition defied concerns the tournament had grown too fast, would have too many overmatched teams and too many lop-sided results.

In 2019, the defending champion U.S. team beat Thailand 13-0 in their opening group-stage game.

In 2023, the biggest win was the Netherlands beating Thailand 7-0, and the tournament “set a new standard for global competitiveness,” Infantino said Friday in a statement, because “teams from all confederations won at least one game and teams from five confederations reached the knockout stage.”

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Viktor Gyokeres has told Ruben Amorim that he will consider a transfer to Manchester United ahead of Arsenal but only if they secure Champions League football for next season.

Gyokeres is one of the leading names on Arsenal’s striker shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window but Mikel Arteta’s side will face competition from United, who are also keen to recruit a new forward.

The Sweden international has been one of the most prolific strikers in Europe this season with 52 goals in 49 appearances for Sporting CP.

Gyokeres has a €100 million (£84.7m) release clause in his deal with Sporting but it’s understood that the Portuguese club would accept between €75m and €85m (£63.5m and £72m) for the 26-year-old.

The Telegraph reports that Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, favours a move for Gyokeres ahead of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko this summer.

The report adds that Gyokeres’ preference would be to join Arsenal and although he has spoken to Amorim, he will only consider United if they are playing in next season’s Champions League.

As it stands, Amorim would need to guide United to victory in the Europa League final on May 21 to secure a place in the Champions League next term.

Arsenal, meanwhile, saw their hopes of winning the Champions League end on Wednesday night following their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain but they still sit second in the Premier League and four points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea with three games remaining.

Speaking last month, Sporting head coach, Rui Borges, acknowledged that this could be Gyokeres’ final campaign with the Portuguese side.

‘Viktor is a player… I think there are no words, it is unlikely that another player of his quality will emerge in our league over the next few years,’ Borges said.

‘He is clearly above average. Sporting recognised his talent, and here we are.

‘Fortunately, we have him at Sporting. We must make the most of the time we have with him because he is truly exceptional.

‘I have said this before, and I will continue to say it – he brings a lot to the team, and his teammates are aware of what he contributes, which is why they look for him during games.’