Overview
- The FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA and FA of Wales filed the official joint bid, projecting the largest single‑sport event ever in the UK with about 4.5 million tickets and a 3.5 billion TV audience.
- The proposal names 22 potential stadiums across 16 cities—16 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland—with the bid touting access for 63 million people within two hours of a host city.
- Headline venues include Manchester United’s proposed new Old Trafford, Birmingham City’s unbuilt 62,000‑seat Powerhouse Stadium and an expanded Wrexham Racecourse Ground, with Old Trafford’s current stadium listed as a fallback.
- Some sites need upgrades to meet FIFA requirements, with Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge currently short of specifications, Anfield omitted over pitch dimensions, and Windsor Park and Wrexham targeted for capacity increases to 20,000.
- The 2035 tournament is planned for 48 teams playing 104 matches over 39 days, with the venue list expected to be cut to around 14–16 by 2029 and the bid backed publicly by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.