Women’s World Cup football could be coming to Brighton and Hove after senior councillors agreed to apply to become a host city.
England is expected to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup along with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with no rival bids and a final decision due in April.
At least eight football grounds will be required for the 48-team tournament – up from the current 32-national finals.
Brighton and Hove will be up against the likes of Manchester, London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds and Newcastle.
Earlier this year, Brighton and Hove Albion’s stadium at Falmer was one of the venues for the Women’s Rugby World Cup Finals.
Previously, the stadium has also hosted Men’s Rugby World Cup Finals matches and was a venue for three international football games when England hosted and won the Women’s Euros three years ago.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet agreed to submit a bit when it met at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (13 November).
Labour council leader Bella Sankey said: “As a host city … we’ve already seen the amazing impact that elite women’s sports can have.
“These events promote the best of Brighton and Hove to people across the world and see us welcome thousands of people to our wonderful city.
“They have also inspired more local women and girls than ever before to get active – and I see that in my own household.”
A report to the cabinet said: “Brighton and Hove has developed a reputation as a key host city location for international sport and especially international women’s sport.
“Successfully bidding to host the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup in the city – the first time that England will host a Football World Cup event since 1966 – will generate worldwide exposure, foster beneficial social and cultural impacts for residents and business and create a growing sporting legacy for the city and the wider Sussex region.
“When Brighton and Hove hosted the UEFA Women’s European Cup in 2022, it leveraged the highest gross value added (GVA) yield of any host city of £8 million due, in part, to extended stays and overnights from fans.
“Sussex as a region is particularly well placed to capitalise on the 2035 competition, with Gatwick Airport likely to have more than 100,000 additional visitors and with the Amex stadium likely to host a number of games within the group stages of the competition.
“Outside of the public games there will also be requirements for team bases and training sites that will likely be across the Sussex region.”
The report outlined other benefits such as increased tourism, global media exposure and volunteering opportunities, inspiring an uptake in sports and more active lifestyles generally.
It said: “The influx of international visitors boosts local businesses, including hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.
“Worldwide coverage of events, estimated at four billion viewers, enhances the region’s reputation as a premier destination for sports and tourism.”
The report to the cabinet also contained a note of caution: “While the economic and social benefits are clear, this decision needs to be carefully considered in the context of the council’s very challenging financial position.
“The council does not have sufficient reserves to fund the tournament and has a significant budget gap from April 2026 onwards.
“Any decision to proceed needs clarity regarding how the council’s commitment / liability will be met.”
The Labour deputy leader of the council, Jacob Taylor, said: “Could Brighton and Hove become one of the leading cities in the whole world for women’s sport? I think so and this is a part of building towards that.”
And Labour cabinet member Birgit Miller, who has responsibility for tourism, said: “I can’t begin to tell you how important these global events are for raising our profile. It’s very exciting and positive for us and out residents.”
FIFA, the world governing body for football, is expected to make a formal announcement in April that England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are to host the 2035 tournament.
It will also choose the venues for the World Cup Finals although the outcome may not be known until about five years before the tournament begins.
