Leeds is positioning itself as a potential host city for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, part of the UK’s multi-nation staging of the tournament. With Elland Road set for a major redevelopment - pushing capacity to 56,500 and making it the seventh-largest football ground in England - the city is pitching hard to secure up to seven matches. For Leeds United and the council, this is about more than football: it’s a chance to cement the city as a global sports destination.

📊 Supporting Stats

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup drew a record 2 million in-person attendees and 2 billion global viewers (FIFA, 2023).
The Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory boosted UK grassroots participation in women’s football by 12% year-on-year (Sport England, 2023).
Redeveloped Elland Road would leapfrog several historic grounds in size, aligning Leeds with Europe’s top event-hosting stadia.
Major events have already put Leeds on the map: the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ attracted 2.5m spectators in Yorkshire, generating an estimated £128m economic impact (UK Sport, 2015).

🧠 Decision: Did It Work?

From a brand and city strategy perspective, this move makes sense. Leeds has both the infrastructure pedigree (rugby, triathlon, cycling, cricket) and the cultural momentum (women’s football at record highs) to host. The Elland Road expansion provides the scale FIFA demands, while also positioning Leeds United as a club with elite facilities. For sponsors and local businesses, hosting means visibility, tourism, and long-term association with the fastest-growing sport in the world.

The risk? Competition. London, Manchester, and Glasgow carry stronger global name recognition, and FIFA tends to favour major capitals. But Leeds can counter this by leaning into its proven ability to host and activate around mass-participation sport - a grassroots credibility FIFA values in the women’s game.

📌 Key Takeouts

Leeds is bidding to host up to seven games at the 2035 Women’s World Cup.
Elland Road redevelopment (capacity 56,500) puts it in the UK’s elite stadium tier.
Women’s football continues to boom, both in audience numbers and grassroots participation.
Leeds’ event track record (Tour de France, rugby world cups, triathlon) strengthens its case.
The bid balances civic pride with brand growth for Leeds United, embedding the city further in global sport.

🔮 What We Can Expect Next

If successful, Leeds will lock in a decade of positioning as a world-class event host, fuelling tourism, brand partnerships, and cultural capital. Even if the bid falls short, the Elland Road expansion and the narrative of Leeds as a sporting hub will continue to benefit the club and the city. Expect brands with roots in Yorkshire - from sportswear to beer - to rally behind the bid, and if Leeds makes the cut, the 2035 Women’s World Cup could be the city’s biggest global stage since the Tour de France rolled through.