Spain, Morocco, Portugal Eye 2035 Women's World Cup

Spain, Morocco, and Portugal Launch Bid to Host 2035 Women’s World Cup

March 29, 2025

Spain, Morocco, and Portugal have formally announced their joint bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking a strategic push to elevate women’s football on the global stage. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the development on Friday, signaling a major step forward in the trio’s ongoing collaboration on international football tournaments.

The proposed bid follows a previous high-level diplomatic meeting in 2021, when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Morocco for talks with King Mohammed VI. That visit laid the groundwork for deeper sporting cooperation between the nations. Now, with Portugal joining the alliance, the countries aim to make history as hosts of the premier event in women’s football.

“There is no better way to raise the profile of women’s sport than by participating in the most important sporting event in the world, a FIFA World Cup. We are currently working on it,”
— Rafael Louzan, President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)

Louzan delivered the statement during a forum at the University of Madrid, underscoring the federation’s commitment to advancing women's sports through world-class event organization.

The move also comes at a time when the RFEF is undergoing efforts to restore its image following several leadership controversies. The federation was thrust into the spotlight after its former president, Luis Rubiales, resigned in disgrace in September 2023. Rubiales faced widespread criticism after forcibly kissing player Jenni Hermoso during Spain’s celebrations following their 2023 Women’s World Cup victory in Sydney, Australia.

In the aftermath, interim president Pedro Rocha took charge but was later suspended over allegations of abuse of authority. Stability returned when Rafael Louzan assumed the presidency in December 2024, pledging to rebuild the RFEF’s credibility and strengthen institutional integrity.

The collaboration between Spain, Morocco, and Portugal builds on their existing partnership as co-hosts for the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup. That tournament will begin with group-stage matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay—a tribute to the centenary of the first-ever FIFA World Cup, held in 1930.

Should their 2035 Women’s World Cup bid succeed, the three nations would once again find themselves at the forefront of football history. The bid represents not only a sporting milestone but also a cultural and diplomatic showcase of the region’s capacity to organize top-tier international events.