Brighton & Hove has officially been included as a potential host city in the UK’s bid to stage the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035.
The UK have formally submitted a bid to FIFA to host the tournament.
The bid features 16 potential host cities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – including Brighton & Hove.
If the UK bid is successful, the 4 member associations will collaborate to host the biggest single-sport event in UK history, in a tournament with inclusivity, diversity and global connection at its heart.
Should Brighton & Hove be selected as a host city, it will also mean the return of elite, international women’s sport to Sussex, with Brighton & Hove City Council, and partners across Sussex, determined to build on the success of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Encouraging more women and girls to take up sport and be active is a key commitment for the council as it looks to address long-standing health inequalities.
Nationally, 1 in 3 girls drop out of sport during their teenage years and here in Brighton & Hove a 2023 survey found only 15% of secondary-school-age girls said they had done one hour of physical activity every day for the past 7 days, compared with 27% of boys. In primary schools, 22% of girls did so, compared with 34% of boys.
National research shows that throughout the UK, girls are far less likely to play sport than boys, with 11- to 18-year-olds each missing out on 1.4 hours a week, the equivalent of 52 football matches a year; 1 in 3 girls surveyed also said boys had access to a wider range of sports.
However, the research also found that more than half (55%) of girls said watching professional athletes inspired them to play, while two-thirds (65%) of 11 to 18-year-olds agreed that watching diverse athletes showed that sport was for everyone.
The hope is, therefore, that continuing to welcome elite international women’s sport to the city will inspire future generations of local girls to take up sport and create a lasting legacy.
Hosting matches during FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035 also has the potential to provide a significant economic boost for the city should its bid be successful.
The recent Women’s Rugby World Cup saw more than 60,000 fans attend the 2 games held in the city, with a significant number staying in local hotels and spending money with businesses across the city.
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “We’re incredibly excited about the possibility of being part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035.
“The power of women’s football to inspire girls, women and people right across our city to participate in sport and create lasting legacies is something we’re passionate about and as a host city for both the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup we’ve already seen the amazing impact elite international women’s sporting events can have.
“Not only have these events promoted the best of Brighton & Hove to people across the world and seen us welcome thousands of people to our wonderful city, they have also inspired more local women and girls than ever before to get active.
“We’re proud to be considered as a potential host city for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035.
“If the UK is successful in its bid to host the tournament, it will be FIFA who decides which host cities are selected, so 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.”
A decision will be made by FIFA in 2026.
