Bronze: 'It could be the biggest event that the country’s ever seen'

Lucy Bronze described the UK's FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035 bid as an ‘amazing’ and ‘exciting’ opportunity.

Earlier today, an official bid was submitted by the FA, Irish FA, Scottish FA and FA of Wales.

And the tournament would mark the largest single-sport event ever staged in the UK, and the first FIFA World Cup hosted in the country since 1966.

“It’s probably a tournament a bit too far away for me but it’ll be so nice to be a fan,” said Bronze. “After the EUROs in 2022 and being part of that, it’ll be so nice to be on the other side in the stands.

“I’m so excited to think we could host a World Cup and it could be the biggest event that the country’s ever seen.”

The long-serving defender has competed at three iterations of the World Cup: the 2015 tournament in Canada, the 2019 edition held in France and the most recent Women’s World Cup in 2023, staged in Australia.

“They’re some of my best memories, being at World Cups,” emphasised Bronze. “My dream was always to play in a World Cup and to have done it multiple times is something I’m so grateful for.

“When I think back to my first one in Canada and not all of my family and friends being able to come out to watch – only my mum and my sister were able to come – for these young players now having the opportunity of a World Cup with their entire families coming to games and the way it’s grown has been amazing to watch.”

She also expressed her excitement for her current England teammates and Young Lionesses who could be involved in the squad for the tournament in a decade’s time.

“There’ll probably be some players currently in this senior team that will potentially be in that World Cup and players in the youth setup that have something they can really set their sights on and say, ‘I want to be part of that’ and give them some extra motivation, especially if they look at the Lionesses now and see the girls playing at Wembley and at these amazing tournaments,” she continued.

“I can honestly say there’s nothing better than being part of a home tournament and the World Cup is the biggest one. Being part of a World Cup, I’ve seen the buzz and the atmosphere.

“For these young girls now growing up, the next ten years they’ve got to train and just be focused for the biggest occasion of their career.”

Bronze also highlighted the impact of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 – the tournament the Lionesses went on to win, famously beating Germany in the final at Wembley – which was staged in England.

“The impact that the EUROs had was unbelievable,” she continued. “It was bigger than anyone could’ve anticipated.

“I think to be able to have the World Cup which is the biggest event in football and to be able to host that with all the nations together, not just in England, and to spread women’s football across the whole nation will be fantastic.

“It’ll be amazing for women’s football and what we’ve already achieved. It’s already exciting to think about.”