Women's World Cup: Fifa announce ambition to expand tournament to 32 teams and double prize money

Gianni Infantino said Fifa will increase investmen in women's football following "the best women's World Cup ever"

Fifa want to expand the Women’s World Cup will from its current 24-team format to a 32-team tournament for the next edition in 2023, president Gianni Infantino announced.

Football's governing body must act quickly on Infantino’s ambition and will consider opening re-opening the bidding process for the next tournament with a view to selecting co-host nations to accommodate an additional eight teams. Nine countries have announced intentions to host the tournament, including a potential joint bid between North Korea and South Koera.

Infantino, who was speaking at a closing press conference ahead of the final, added that the prize money will be doubled to lift it to $60m. The 2020 men’s tournament will have a prize money of $440m.

Ahead of Sunday’s final between holders the USA and the Netherlands, Infantino said he will take his new proposals to the Fifa council and member associations for approval.

"I want to expand the tournament to 32 teams," said Infantino. "We will have to act quickly to decide if we are to increase it for 2023, if we do we should reopen the bidding process to allow everyone to have a chance or maybe co-host. Nothing is impossible."

The Fifa president has big plans for the women's game (Getty)

Infantino added that the 2019 tournament has been "the best women's World Cup ever" and said it was an opportunity to build on the game worldwide, with a global club competition in 2020 or 2021 in mind.

"(I would like to see) a Club World Cup for women starting as soon as possible next year or the year after," Infantino added.

"We need a Club World Cup which can be played even every year to expose clubs from all other the world to make clubs invest even more in women’s football to really shine in a world stage which is a real and true Club World Cup."

Infantino also said that Fifa will increase its investment in women's football worldwide to $1 billion over the next four-year cycle.