The United States is on track to host the 2031 Women's World Cup, Fifa president Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday.

Infantino also confirmed that the 2035 global soccer competition is expected to take place in the United Kingdom.

The US submitted the only bid for 2031, while the joint bid from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was the only "valid" bid for 2035, Infantino told the Uefa Congress in Belgrade, Serbia.

"The path is there for the Women's World Cup to be taking place in '31 and '35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women's football movement," Infantino said.

USA will host the 2031 Women’s World Cup with the UK hosting 2035, FIFA announces 🇺🇸🏆🇬🇧

🔗 https://t.co/UKZMOJaaao pic.twitter.com/LsUdXCa4Xl

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 3, 2025

Technically, the bids must be formally approved in a vote at next year's Fifa Congress, but that appears to be a foregone conclusion with no other viable bidders ahead of Saturday's deadline.

Infantino said the US bid could "potentially" include other Concacaf members.

The US previously hosted the Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003.

"We are excited about the opportunity to co-host the 2031 Fifa Women's World Cup and, in collaboration with our Concacaf partners, are committed to delivering a tournament that leaves a lasting legacy – one that elevates women's soccer across the world and inspires future generations of players and fans," US Soccer said in a statement.

"As Fifa finalises the number of participating teams in the tournament, we will solidify our partnership structure with fellow Concacaf nations. We look forward to sharing more details and unveiling our full vision for the 2031 Fifa Women's World Cup in the near future."

We are excited about the opportunity to co-host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup and, in collaboration with our @Concacaf partners, are committed to delivering a tournament that leaves a lasting legacy - one that elevates women’s soccer across the world and inspires future… pic.twitter.com/3ZYmta0Mjj

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) April 3, 2025

The UK will be hosting for the first time.

"We are honoured to be the sole bidder for the Women's World Cup 2035. Hosting the first Fifa World Cup since 1966 with our home nations partners will be very special. The hard work starts now, to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year," England FA CEO Mark Bullingham said in a statement.

The Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have been confirmed by FIFA as the sole bidders to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035.

— The FA (@FA) April 3, 2025

The 2027 Women's World Cup will take place in Brazil with 32 teams and 64 matches from June 24 to July 25.

Spain is the defending champion after breaking through for its first Women's World Cup title in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.

The 2031 Women's World Cup will expand to 48 teams.

The 2026 men's Fifa World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July .

The United States is the sole bidder for the 2031 Women's World Cup, and the United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 tournament, Fifa president Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday.

"Today I can confirm that we have received one bid for 2031 and one valid bid for 2035," said Infantino on stage at the Uefa Congress in Belgrade.

"2031 is from the USA and potentially some other CONCACAF members together, and '35 is from Europe, from the home nations," he added, referring to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Infantino also said Fifa planned to increase the number of participating teams at the Women's World Cup from 32 teams to 48 in time for the 2031 tournament.

Thursday's announcement comes after the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland revealed last month that they would submit an expression of interest in staging the tournament.

World football's governing body last month said it would only welcome bids for 2035 from Europe or Africa, with expressions of interest to be made in the first quarter of this year.

"We are honoured to be the sole bidder for the Fifa Women's World Cup 2035," English Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham said in a statement.

"Hosting England's first Fifa World Cup since 1966, along with our home nations partners, will be very special. The hard work starts now, to put together the best possible bid by the end of the year."

Fifa has said that the identity of the hosts would be officially confirmed at its congress in the second quarter of 2026.

The United States also confirmed in early March that it would push ahead with a bid for 2031.

South Africa and Morocco had also been in the running with African nations invited to bid too, but Infantino's comments suggest they are now out of contention.

The next Women's World Cup will take place in Brazil in 2027.

The United States will co-host the 2026 men's World Cup with Canada and Mexico, and will also host the first edition of Fifa's expanded Club World Cup this June and July.

Next year's World Cup will be the first time 48 teams have participated in the men's tournament, up from 32.

The Women's World Cup was expanded from 24 teams to 32 for the first time for the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

The United Kingdom and Ireland will co-host the men's European Championship in 2028, while the Women's Euro in 2022 took place in England.

Fifa has already attributed the 2030 men's World Cup jointly to Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with three games also being played in South America. Saudi Arabia will then host in 2034.

Spain's head of World Cup 2030 organisation resigned on Wednesday after being accused of fixing the process to decide which stadiums would host matches to favour one city, reported Spanish media.

Maria Tato stood down from her post at the Spanish football federation (RFEF) following a report published by newspaper El Mundo which said ratings for potential venues were altered to favour Anoeta in San Sebastian, at the expense of Balaidos in Vigo.

"On 25 June 2024, Balaidos was among the 11 venues (in Spain), but on 27 June the list was modified," complained the mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, on X this week.

"This is extremely serious, we demand that they explain to us who changed it, why and with what criteria."

The RFEF did not respond to an AFP request for comment.

The federation announced last year that Spain would have 11 venues at the tournament, including Barcelona's rebuilt Camp Nou stadium and Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, while co-hosts Portugal have three and Morocco six.

The RFEF has been hit with various crises in recent years.

Former president Luis Rubiales resigned in disgrace in September 2023 after forcibly kissing Women's World Cup star Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain's triumph in Sydney.

His successor, Pedro Rocha was suspended for overstepping his duties after initially arriving on an interim basis, with Rafael Louzan taking the reins in December 2024.

Japan's football chief said on Thursday it was "very disappointing" after Fifa torpedoed his country's hopes of hosting the 2031 Women's World Cup.

Football's world governing body said on Wednesday that bids for the 2031 tournament would be limited to countries from North America and Africa, with the 2035 event going to either Europe or Africa.

Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto told AFP in an interview last year that Japan wanted to host the 2031 event to "raise the value of women's football here".

Japan, who won the Women's World Cup in 2011, must now wait until 2039 at the earliest before they can host the tournament for the first time.

"For us, who were aiming to host the 2031 Women's World Cup, this is very disappointing news," Miyamoto said in a statement.

"But this decision doesn't change our aim to widen the spread of women's football, increase the playing population and raise the level of the women's game in Japan."

Miyamoto, who captained his country at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, had told AFP that Japan wanted to use the 2031 tournament to close the gap on Europe and North America.

Japan's women have not gone beyond the World Cup quarterfinals since they lost to the US in the 2015 final.

Miyamoto said Japan would consider a bid for the 2039 tournament and beyond.

"To everyone associated with the game in this country, let's move forward together," he said.

The 2027 Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil.

Jenni Hermoso was "overwhelmed" by former Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales' forced kiss and was unable to enjoy winning the Women's World Cup, her teammates told a court on Thursday.

Rubiales sparked worldwide outrage for the kiss on Hermoso after she had just helped Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Australia.

The 47-year-old, who was forced to resign that year, has been on trial since Monday, accused of sexual assault for the kiss and then attempting to coerce Hermoso, 34, to downplay the incident with the help of other federation officials.

Hermoso "was not well" after the kiss, Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas told the National Court just outside Madrid by video.

She added her teammate "was really overwhelmed and she told us they would not leave her alone, that they wouldn't stop".

Arsenal centre-back Laia Codina told the trial that during a team celebration trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza, Hermoso "was sad, she was not enjoying herself, far from it" even though it "should have been the best moment in your life".

Ana Belen Ecube, Hermoso's friend who accompanied her to Ibiza, said the player "tried to enjoy the trip, being with her teammates, the surroundings, but was then conscious of what had happened and was sad, down, wasn't herself".

Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison against Rubiales.

Among the accused alongside him are ex-women's national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, Ruben Rivera and Albert Luque.

They also stand accused of trying to coerce Hermoso with prosecutors seeking 18 months' jail against them.

The player's older brother, Rafael Hermoso, told the trial on Wednesday that Vilda asked him on the flight back to Spain after the World Cup to "convince" his sister to record a video with Rubiales to show she was not bothered by the kiss.

Vilda warned his sister she faced "professional and personal consequences" if she did not cooperate, he added.

Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the national women's team, was not called up immediately after the World Cup, with new coach Montse Tome saying she wanted to protect the player. She now plays in Mexico.

"To deprive her of doing her job was a bit unfair, to say the least," Putellas told the court.

Spain's disgraced former football chief Luis Rubiales goes on trial on Monday over his forced kiss of star striker Jenni Hermoso that triggered global outrage.

The affair has made Hermoso, 34, an icon of the fight against sexism in sport and generated soul-searching in Spain and beyond since erupting in 2023.

Prosecutors have demanded two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault for the forced kiss and 18 months for coercing Hermoso to cover up the scandal.

Alongside Rubiales among the accused are ex-women's national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials, Ruben Rivera and Albert Luque.

They also stand accused of trying to coerce Hermoso with prosecutors seeking 18 months' jail against them in the highly anticipated trial which is expected to last until February 19 in a court outside Madrid.

The scandal that rocked Spanish football and wrecked Rubiales' career broke on August 20, 2023, moments after the women's national team had clinched World Cup glory by beating England in the final in Sydney.

As Hermoso joined her teammates in collecting their winner's medals, Rubiales clasped her head and kissed her on the lips before letting her go with two slaps on the back.

The act unleashed a public outcry at what critics deemed an abuse of power. A recent reform of the Spanish criminal code classifies a non-consensual kiss as sexual assault.

Rubiales said the kiss was an innocuous "peck between friends celebrating".

A few days later and with pressure continuing to mount, he rebuffed calls for his resignation and slammed "fake feminism" during an emergency federation general assembly.

Outraged by the remarks, Hermoso broke her silence and said she felt "vulnerable and a victim... of an impulsive, macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part".

Rubiales eventually gave in and resigned in September 2023, two days after the start of the investigation into him.

'PROTECT THE PRESIDENT'

In a recent Netflix documentary titled "Se acabo" ("It's over"), which looks back at the players' anger after the scandal overshadowed their historic success, Hermoso revealed she cried following the kiss.

Hermoso, who now plays for a club in Mexico, said in the documentary that the federation demanded she appear in a video where she would claim Rubiales's kiss "was nothing, it was... joy, euphoria".

Barcelona star Alexia Putellas, the most-capped player in the national women's team with two Ballon d'Or trophies to her name, told the documentary the aim was to "protect the president (Rubiales)", even if it meant "sacrificing" Hermoso.

The hashtag #SeAcabo flooded social media in the wake of the scandal to denounce sexism in sport.

The affair has shown that "the inability of some men to realise they are exerting violence" allowed the incident to happen, said Isabel Valdes, a journalist specialising in gender issues at El Pais daily.

The kiss took place in a public space when "the eyes of the whole world were riveted" on their televisions and Spanish society was "no longer ready to put up with it", she told AFP.

The resignation of Rubiales, whose tumultuous tenure saw him embroiled in separate claims about irregular financial dealings, triggered a period of turmoil for the Spanish football federation.

His replacement Pedro Rocha lasted less than a year in the job and current president Rafael Louzan was elected in December 2024 with the federation still trying to move on.

The US women's national team reclaimed the No 1 spot in the Fifa world soccer rankings Friday after striking gold at the Paris Olympics.

The Americans had dropped to fifth in the previous rankings released in June, their lowest point since Fifa began ranking women's teams in 2003. It had been 12 months since the USWNT was last ranked No 1.

Under new head coach Emma Hayes, the USWNT defeated Brazil 1-0 in the Summer Games final to claim its fifth gold medal and seventh medal overall for the four-time World Cup champions.

England ranks second, with previous No .1 Spain, Germany and Sweden rounding out the top five.

England and the US will meet in a friendly at London's Wembley Stadium on November 30.

The rest of the top 10 are Canada, Japan, Brazil, South Korea and France. The French dropped eight places after losing in the Olympic quarterfinals.

Brazilian football star Marta said she was "very happy" her country had on Friday been awarded the 2027 Women's World Cup, which will be the first in South America.

A Fifa congress meeting in Bangkok voted to send the 10th Women's World Cup to the land of samba football, beating a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

The 2027 #FIFAWWC will be hosted by Brazil! 🤩🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/iPAISNUZmc

— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) May 17, 2024

"I'm sure that the 2027 Women's World Cup will be a success, and the Brazilian people, as always, will have their arms wide open to welcome the world football community!" Marta, six times the Fifa women's World Player of the Year, posted on Instagram.

A video released by the Brazilian World Cup bid included 38-year-old Marta.

"Playing in a World Cup at home is the dream of so many Brazilian girls," she said echoing the bid slogan that Brazil was the "natural choice".

Marta, whose Brazil side finished runners up in the 2007 World Cup and won Olympic silver medals in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, does not plan to live the dream herself in 2027.

She said in April that she hoped to be selected for the Paris Olympics but then planned to retire from international football.

After Marta announced her retirement from international football ,The World Cup is going Brazil in 2027 🥺🇧🇷
Her career has been influential to women in South America and the entire world
She is Brazil’s all-time top scorer &
World Cup all-time top scorer
6x FIFA Best 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ebQGNPFbjs

— Grace Mwelu (@Gmwelu) May 17, 2024

"If I go to the Olympics, I'll enjoy every moment because, regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team. There is no longer Marta in the national team as an athlete from 2025 onwards," Marta told CNN Brazil.

Brazil's Minister of Sport, Andre Fufuca, also welcomed Fifa's choice.

"Brazil is ready! This will be the World Cup not only for Brazil, but for the whole of South America," he said in a statement.

"The players will serve as an example to future generations and help Brazil create a positive and lasting impact in society, promoting inclusion, diversity and equality in sport."

Brazil has been dealing with devastating floods in the south of the country.

"Unlike in recent weeks, I woke to excellent news and reason to smile," Marta posted on Friday.

"If it were possible, I would like the first match of the Brazilian national team to be played in Rio Grande Sul. The state of Rio Grande do Sul and the people of Rio Grande do Sul deserve it!"

One in five players were the target of online abuse during the 2023 Women's World Cup, FIFA said on Monday as a package of social media protection tools hid nearly 117 000 comments.

The Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), developed by the world governing body with players' union FIFPRO and launched at the 2022 men's World Cup, was offered to teams at the women's finals in Australia and New Zealand, FIFA said in June.

The tool, which has been used at eight FIFA tournaments in the last 12 months, monitors and moderates hate speech on social media, hiding harmful content from the players.

Players at this year's Women's World Cup were 29% more likely to be targeted with online abuse compared with players at last year's men's finals in Qatar, the FIFA report showed.

About 5.1 million posts and comments in 35 different languages were analysed for abusive content, FIFA said, protecting 697 players and coaches actively using 2 111 accounts across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.

More than 150 female players received targeted discriminatory, abusive or threatening messages during the Australia and New Zealand tournament, where two teams - the US and Argentina - stood out as key targets.

Homophobic, sexual and sexist abuse accounted for almost 50% of detected abusive messages, FIFA added, and 116, 00 comments were hidden across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube being junk, spam, discriminatory, abusive or threatening.

The final, which saw Spain beat European Champions England 1-0, generated the largest spike of abusive content across the tournament, with more than 6 500 comments hidden by SMPS.

"There can be no place on social media for those who abuse or threaten anyone, be that in FIFA tournaments or elsewhere," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

FIFPRO President David Aganzo added: "The abuse that persists online impacts football players all over the world and it cannot be ignored.

"This toxic online environment is a risky place to be in for players and it affects their mental health and wellbeing. Football has a responsibility to protect the players around their workspace."

The SMPS tool, which was also used at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia in November and December, uses artificial intelligence to protect the players and also stops their followers being exposed to hate speech.

A judge at Spain's top criminal court opened an investigation into former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales on Monday, following a lawsuit filed over his forcible kiss on Jenni Hermoso's lips after the Women's World Cup final.

Judge Francisco de Jorge of the National Court, admitted the complaint filed by Spanish prosecutors last week regarding alleged "crimes of sexual assault and "coercion", the court said in a statement.

The magistrate also asked media outlets to send him footage from different angles of Rubiales' kiss, as well as the Spain players' celebrations in the dressing room and on the team bus after winning the World Cup on August 20 in Sydney.

The public prosecutor's office filed a complaint against Rubiales last week, requesting that "a statement be taken from Luis Rubiales, as a defendant, and from Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso as a victim".

Since a recent reform of the Spanish penal code, a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault, a criminal category that groups together all types of sexual violence.

The penalties for a forced kiss can range from a fine to four years in prison, according to sources from the public prosecutor's Office.

De Jorge's decision came the day after Rubiales announced his resignation as Spain's RFEF football federation president, after initially refusing to do so claiming that the kiss had been "consensual".

In an open letter announcing his decision the 46-year-old continued to defend himself.

"I have faith in the truth and I will do everything in my power so that it prevails," Rubiales wrote.

Australian police told AFP on Monday they were willing to help with an investigation, but that a report had not yet been referred to them.

Hermoso, 33, who plays for Mexican club Pachuca, has said the unwanted kiss left her feeling "vulnerable and like the victim of an assault", with a statement on social media describing it as "an impulsive, macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part".

She also accused Rubiales of pressuring her to speak out in his defence immediately after the furore over the kiss erupted, which prosecutors said could be considered a crime of coercion.

Megan Rapinoe will play her final game for the United States women's team on September 24 in a friendly against South Africa in Chicago, the US Soccer Federation (USSF) said on Tuesday.

Rapinoe, 38, announced last month before the Women's World Cup that she would retire when the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season ends in November.

The veteran forward played in four World Cups, winning in 2015 and 2019, and helped the US to Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games.

She was one of three American players to miss her spot-kick when the US were knocked out by Sweden on penalties in the last 16 stage of this year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

"People may think that my career coming to an end would bring sadness, but when I think back on the past 30-plus years of playing this game, my overriding emotions are joy and gratitude," Rapinoe said in a statement issued by USSF.

"It's been an unbelievable ride. It will be special to have this one last opportunity to play for my country ... and get the chance to thank my teammates and everyone who has had an impact on me as a person and player over the years."

Rapinoe will end her international career with 203 caps and currently has 63 goals and 73 assists for the national team. She has also been an advocate for LGBT+ rights and equal pay in women's soccer.

Rapinoe is scheduled to play her last NWSL regular-season game with OL Reign on October 6 against Washington Spirit in Seattle.

Vera Pauw's four-year tenure as coach of Republic of Ireland's women's team will end at the end of August after the country's football association (FAI) said on Tuesday it will not offer her a new contract.

Dutch coach Pauw, 60, succeeded Colin Bell in September 2019 and led Ireland to their first major tournament at this year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where they exited in the group stage.

Earlier this month, FAI said they would go through a "full and comprehensive review" of the team's World Cup campaign before deciding Pauw's future.

After a lengthy meeting of the FAI board on Tuesday, it decided Pauw's contract will not be extended after it expires at the end of the month.

"On behalf of the Football Association of Ireland, we would like to thank Vera for her hard work and commitment over the past four years and wish her well for the future," Jonathan Hill, the FAI chief executive, said in a statement cited by RTE.

"In particular, I wish to acknowledge the role she played in leading Ireland to the Fifa Women's World Cup 2023 where our women's team made history and inspired a nation."

Ireland will host Northern Ireland in the Women's Nations League on September 23 in Dublin.

The recently concluded ninth edition of the Fifa Women’s World Cup™ saw Spain rewrite the history books, with their maiden world crown also resulting in a stunning jump in the Fifa/Coca Cola Women’s World Ranking (2nd, up 4).

 Indeed, La Roja could have even clinched pole position had they not missed out on the 35 points at stake in their heavy 4-0 defeat to Japan in their final group-stage game.

As a result, it is Sweden who sit at the top of the pile for the first time ever (1st, up 2). The Scandinavians dethrone the USA (3rd, down 2), whom they squeezed past in the round of 16 before ultimately being edged out in the semis and then recovering to overcome joint hosts Australia in the match for third place.

As for the Matildas (11th, down 1), they pay the price for their defeat in that tussle for the final podium place and are the only side to drop out of the top ten in this edition of the ranking. Meanwhile, quarterfinalists Japan (8th, up 3) move in the opposite direction to reclaim their spot among the leading pack.

The other movers in the top ten of the global standings are risers the Netherlands (7th, up 2) and fallers Germany (6th, down 4), who failed to progress beyond the group stage for the first time at the finals. Elsewhere, Canada (10th, down 3) also suffer the consequences of their early exit.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on 15 December 2023

Leader Sweden (up 2 ranks)
Moves into top 10 1 (Japan – 11 to 8)
Moves out of top 10 1 (Australia – 10 to 11)
Matches played in total 131
Most matches played Spain (9 matches)
Biggest move by points Morocco (up 104.22 points)
Biggest move by ranks Morocco (up 14 ranks)
Biggest drop by points Germany (down 73.89 points)
Biggest drop by ranks Equatorial Guinea (down 9 ranks)
Newly ranked teams None
Teams that are no longer ranked Madagascar, American Samoa

Spain put aside months of turmoil and division to claim their first Women's World Cup title on Sunday, overcoming a player revolt that saw La Roja lose some of their best talent even before the tournament had kicked off.

One of the world's strongest and most exciting teams arrived without some key players but a talented group of youngsters showed the grit and skill required to put all the problems to one side and won Spain's first major trophy.

But as the victors celebrated amid a clamour for interviews from the world's media after their 1-0 win over England in Sydney there was no mention of teammates who remained at home.

Twelve of the 15 players who took part in the mutiny and ended up not making Spain's World Cup squad decided to stay silent, giving no interviews and making no mention of the Women's World Cup on their personal social media accounts.

There were no messages of support, sympathy or appreciation either for the players who last September told the Spanish FA (RFEF) they were quitting the team while long-standing coach Jorge Vilda was in charge, sparking unrest in the changing room.

The 15 e-mails from 15 players sent to RFEF President Luis Rubiales demanded radical changes in the team's structure.

There was never any suggestion of inappropriate behaviour and the campaign was undermined because none of the players came out publicly to explain exactly what their demands were, only denying that they had asked for Vilda to be fired.

The RFEF backed Vilda during the darkest hours of the revolt and he cut the players involved in the dispute out of his squad.

Eight of the 15 backed off months later, asking to be reintegrated, but Vilda found space for only three in his World Cup squad - Ona Battle, Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati, who was voted the best player of the tournament.

Marquee names like Sandra Panos, Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leon and Claudia Pina, key players in Barcelona's brilliant Champions League title campaign, were among the 12 players left out.

PLAYERS SILENT

Reuters tried to contact the players through their agents, who said they will remain silent.

However, Spanish agent Carlota Planas, who represents world champions Mariona Caldentey, Cata Coll and four of the players who were left behind – Pina, Guijarro, Lola Gallardo and Leila Aouhabi – told Reuters the revolt played a major role in Spain's World Cup success.

"Without them and their bravery, surely the RFEF would not have even considered making any improvements at all," Planas said.

"Their demands were about better work conditions and some of those demands were answered, like improvements in the rehabilitation department and better travelling conditions for them and their families."

According to Planas, some players were content with part of the demands being met and made amends with the RFEF, but others believed it was not enough and did not change their position.

"They are at peace with their decision because they believe it was the right thing to do," Planas said of her clients' state of mind after watching Spain's title win from afar.

"Sure everyone wants to be world champions, but they are aware of the importance of their fight."

Marta Diaz from BePlayer Agency, who represents Manchester City's Laia Aleixandri and Manchester United's Lucia Garcia, also reinforced the impact of the mutiny in leading to positive change in the Spanish FA.

"The changes and achievements speak for themselves. The new measures coupled with the talent of the players have made the results we are seeing possible," Diaz told Reuters.

"We have had some of the best players in the world in our team for many years but the RFEF will never recognise that it woke up and started to take a real interest and invest in women's football after the repercussions the case had in the media last year.

"The players are facing a losing battle against a giant.

"There are still many sections of society who are attacking, insulting and mocking the players who have sacrificed everything for something they believed in and who are not willing to keep fanning the flames of such an unbalanced fight."

The United States have begun the process of rebuilding their women's team after the departure of their coach, general manager and a handful of influential players following the nation's most disappointing Women's World Cup campaign.

Spain defeated England 1-0 in Sunday's final in Sydney, capping the biggest-ever edition of the tournament that broke attendance and TV records, raising hopes of a surge in interest for the women's game.

The Americans, who own a record four World Cup titles and had never before finished worse than third place, left town long before the party was over after a shock defeat to Sweden in the last 16.

Days later, coach Vlatko Andonovski stepped down as coach, leaving every US fan wondering: 'Was this tournament a bump in the road or is this the end of an era for the most successful women's international football team?'

"It's imperative that we continue to evolve and innovate, and we are excited about the path that lies ahead," US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said in a statement last week.

"Our commitment to excellence remains unshakeable, and we believe this strategic plan will set the foundation for our women's national team to achieve greater heights in the years to come."

The former director of football operations at Premier League side Southampton is the man at the centre of the women's national team's long-term strategy at a pivotal moment for American soccer, with the men's tournament coming stateside in 2026.

Announced in the role in April, Crocker took the reins after the federation overhauled the scope of the sporting department, as the men's side offered a glimmer of hope by reaching the last 16 in Qatar after failing to qualify for the previous edition.

The US federation must also replace women's national team General Manager Kate Margkraf, whose departure was announced on Friday. She took the newly created position in 2019.

"There’s been a lot of great work that has been done by the sporting staff on the women’s side of the game at US Soccer, which means we are starting from a position of strength," Crocker said after Margkraf's departure.

"We're looking forward to building on what has been created already."

EMBRACING NEWCOMERS

Andonovski, who previously coached in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), had no international experience before taking the helm for the US team - an omission to his resume that came under increasing scrutiny as the Americans' fortunes unravelled in New Zealand and Australia.

But the Macedonian-American never shied from bringing the next generation into the fold, as he fielded the least experienced US team in memory with 14 World Cup newcomers, compared to only eight in 2015.

A slew of injured players, including midfield stars Sam Mewis and Catarina Macario and top goalscorer Mallory Swanson, may have forced some of the new crop into the fore.

But fans looking for a glimmer of hope from the Americans' dismal campaign can look to the younger players.

Forward Sophia Smith, 23, recorded a brace in the US opener against Vietnam while 23-year-old defender Naomi Girma lived up to the hype on the back line.

The younger class that includes 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson will be in focus when the US travel to Paris for the 2024 Olympics after picking up bronze in Tokyo, with former captain Megan Rapinoe among the veterans expected to step aside.

Twice US Soccer Female Player of the Year Julie Ertz suggested that her time was up too following the defeat by Sweden.

"It s probably the last game ever being able to have the honour to wear this crest," she told Fox.

"But it is an honour to represent this team and I am excited for the future of the girls."

This year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand came to an end on Sunday as Spain beat England 1-0 in the final to claim their maiden title.

Here is what you need to know about the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup, which will be the 10th edition of the quadrennial tournament:

WHERE WILL THE 2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TAKE PLACE?

* Fifa have received four expressions of interest from prospective hosts for the 2027 edition of the Women's World Cup.

* Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have submitted a joint expression of interest to host the tournament while the other joint proposal includes the United States and Mexico. Brazil and South Africa have also expressed interest.

* The final bids will be submitted in December, following which Fifa will conduct on-site inspections.

* The hosts for the tournament will be appointed at Fifa's Congress in May next year.

WHEN WILL THE 2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TAKE PLACE?

* Fifa is yet to announce the exact dates for the tournament.

HOW MANY TEAMS WILL FEATURE IN THE 2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP?

* Like this year's event in Australia and New Zealand, the 2027 Women's World Cup will feature 32 teams.

* The tournament will begin with a group stage, with teams divided into eight groups of four, followed by knockout matches.

WHICH TEAMS WILL FEATURE IN THE 2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP?

* The qualifying process for the tournament is yet to begin.

Spain captain and World Cup final hero Olga Carmona found out after the match that her father had died, the Spanish FA (RFEF) said on Sunday.

Carmona scored a 29th-minute goal to earn Spain a 1-0 win over England as they secured their first Women's World Cup title.

"The RFEF deeply regrets to announce the death of Olga Carmona's father. The footballer learned the sad news after the World Cup final," the Spanish FA said on social media.

"We send our most sincere embrace to Olga and her family in a moment of deep sorrow. We love you, Olga, you are Spanish soccer history."

An RFEF spokesperson told Reuters that Carmona's father had been fighting a long illness and passed away on Friday.

According to Spanish media outlet Relevo, Carmona's family and friends decided not to tell her so that she could focus on the most important match of her life.

Carmona's mother and brothers travelled to New Zealand during the World Cup's group stage, but then rushed back to Spain. They arrived in Australia on Saturday to support the Real Madrid fullback in the final.

The Spanish FA (RFEF) did not wait long after Spain won the Women's World Cup on Sunday before posting a pointed message on social media with a picture of coach Jorge Vilda kissing the trophy below the words "VILDA IN".

The 42-year-old's long tenure as coach was called into question last year when 15 national team players sent letters to the RFEF saying they would no longer play for Spain while Vilda remained coach.

The RFEF backed their coach and Vilda brought three of the mutineers back into the squad for the World Cup while freezing the others out and leaving them at home.

There is no way of knowing what a full-strength Spain might have achieved in New Zealand and Australia but the squad that did get on the plane were good enough to beat England 1-0 on Sunday and claim the biggest prize in the women's game.

"I've always said that if all the suffering was necessary to become world champions, it would be worth it," Vilda told reporters after the final.

"It's been difficult at a personal level in management but at a sporting level we've achieved results that we've never achieved before.

"I am very happy that we are champions of the world."

Luis Rubiales, the Spanish FA president, also suggested that he felt vindicated by Sunday's result.

"It is often said that it takes a little time to realise an achievement like this, but I am perfectly aware," he told reporters.

"We have worked very hard, although there were people who did not want to let us work. I think we have to learn in Spain to value positive things. To let people do their job.

"That small per centage of people who were constantly frustrated and resentful must learn that you have to let people work."

Vilda was asked about his management of twice Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, who spent much of the tournament on the bench, and goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez, who was dropped for good after the 4-0 loss to Japan in the group stage.

"It's been very easy, in fact," he said. "We are a national team of players, but very quickly became a fabulous group, a fabulous team, and right now we are a family and we are world champions.

"The only way to achieve success is by working, working, working. That's how we've achieved it."

Vilda was asked about his own personal feelings about helping Spain to their first Women's World Cup triumph.

"Extreme happiness," he said. "We've made many millions of people that were watching us in our country happy.

"I feel very proud of my team of football players, not only those who've been here at the World Cup, but those who participated during the whole of the qualification rounds and training camps.

"I feel very proud of them and I feel very satisfied with the work that the staff has done."

England soccer fans went home in bitter disappointment on Sunday after losing the Women's World Cup final 1-0 to Spain, but in defeat many of them also found inspiration and hope for future generations in the sport.

Large crowds camped out with finger food and picnic blankets to cheer England on at public screenings across the country, while face-painted punters started the day with a beer in packed-out bars and pubs.

But the nationwide "watch party" that started at breakfast had dissolved into despair by lunchtime as the Lionesses could not overturn a first-half Spain goal before the final whistle blew over 10 000 miles away in Sydney.

"They might have not won, and it's so sad, but they've done so much for women's football, and that's what matters," said Jennifer Maidment, a 25-year-old student who watched the game in London.

Earlier this week the government had encouraged pubs to open early, supermarkets forecast a surge in demand for breakfast and barbecue food, and the Church of England gave its blessing to those who wanted to fit the match around their Sunday worship.

The scale of the national excitement reflected the growing public profile of women's soccer in England, where the team's run to the final built on their victory at the European Championship last year.

"We never had any role models as girls when we were younger, so to have role models now is amazing. They've inspired us," said Kaitlin Howard, a 26-year-old teacher who plays for Woking Football Club.

For older generations, the progress since the first England women's international match in 1972 was clear.

"We played in front of about 400 people ... it's very, very different now," said former England player Pat Davies, 68 as she reflected on the level of support at a sold-out venue in London.

"It's just fantastic, we didn't think we'd see this in our lifetime."

England coach Sarina Wiegman said her team could be "very proud" of themselves having reached their first Women's World Cup final, despite falling to a 1-0 defeat by Spain on Sunday.

 

Heads high, Lionesses.

Sarina Wiegman and her team and fantastic ambassadors for European football.#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/FCITaslaYE

— UEFA (@UEFA) August 20, 2023

 

Olga Carmona's first-half strike was enough to clinch a maiden world title for the Spanish in just their third World Cup appearance.

European champions England went into the tournament missing key players through injury and struggled to convince at times, but found a way to overcome every challenge to reach the showpiece match for the first time.

Wiegman said it would take time for the players to realise the scale of their achievement.

"Of course, everyone was very disappointed that we didn't win the game. On the other hand, I think we can we can be very proud of ourselves, although that doesn't feel that way at this moment," the 53-year-old told a press conference.

"That takes a little time, because now the disappointment is the most of what you feel.

"But everything we've done, how we have grown into the tournament, the challenges we had before the tournament, during the tournament, how we have adapted to situations.

"And we have given everything what we could in this tournament and also in this game ... That's what I said to them, we could still be proud."

It is the second World Cup final defeat for Wiegman, who took her native Netherlands to the title match in 2019 where they lost 2-0 to the United States.

Already trailing to Carmona's strike, England could have gone two down after the hour mark when Spain were given a penalty for a handball by Keira Walsh, though the decision looked harsh on the midfielder and Wiegman said it was "way too light".

However, goalkeeper Mary Earps, who took the tournament's Golden Glove award, saved the spot kick, a moment which the coach thought would give her team the momentum to get back into the game.

"It was a crucial moment that she stopped that penalty and I actually thought we have the momentum now, we're going to get back and score a goal. I was really convinced about that," she said.

"But she had two or three other very good saves in the game and I think the goalkeeper of Spain had some very good saves. It was a very open game."