Manchester United have announced their plans to finish their 100,000-capacity stadium, named New Trafford, in time to host matches at the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the U.K. and Ireland planning a joint bid for the event.
The new stadium was included in a list of 22 proposed sites presented this week. Birmingham City’s intended new arena is also part of the list, having recently faced backlash due to its tower-centric design.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham lauded the vision driving the planned facilities emphasizing the need for “the stadia” to be prepared within ten years. United COO Collette Roche reiterated the club’s outlook characterizing the initiative as a component of a revitalization of the Old Trafford district intended to serve the local community and the Greater Manchester area.
Should construction experience delays, Old Trafford, as it presently stands, will still qualify to host World Cup matches. Additional Premier League stadiums chosen comprise those of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham, while Liverpool’s Anfield was conspicuously left out.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £2 billion “Wembley of the North” concept—first unveiled in March—remains central to United’s long-term infrastructure plans, despite slow progress since initial designs were released.
