Manchester will become the stage for the Netball World Cup in 2031 following England's successful bid to host the sport's flagship tournament for a third occasion.
The nation has previously staged the competition twice: the inaugural event took place in Eastbourne in 1963, and England hosted again in Liverpool in 2019.
The tournament will take place at Manchester's Co-op Live arena, which recently demonstrated its capacity to deliver world-class netball when it hosted the 2026 Netball Super League Grand Final.
Sixteen teams will compete in the 2031 World Cup. According to World Netball's qualification structure, the host nation qualifies automatically, with five additional places allocated to the highest-ranked teams on the qualification date and the remaining ten decided through regional qualifiers.
England's record on home soil has been respectable but not triumphant. The team earned bronze medals at both of their previous World Cups staged domestically, falling short of the ultimate prize.
The immediate focus for England's netball programme remains the 2027 World Cup in Sydney. Following the 2027 tournament, World Netball has announced the competition will move to a two-year cycle, with the next edition scheduled for 2029.
England will be seeking to improve on their silver medal from South Africa in 2023 and claim their first World Cup title in Sydney.
Baroness Campbell hails Manchester's sporting heritage
Baroness Sue Campbell, chair of England Netball, expressed her enthusiasm for bringing the tournament to the North West.
As a proud Northerner, I am absolutely thrilled to see the world's biggest netball event coming to Manchester. This is a city with an incredible sporting heritage and a real passion for bringing people together through sport.
She highlighted the significance of hosting the world's elite netball players in the region.
To have the best netball players in the world coming to Manchester is a hugely exciting prospect, and I know the city will give them the welcome they deserve.
Campbell emphasised the broader impact the tournament could have on participation and engagement with the sport.
This is a fantastic opportunity not only to showcase our sport on the biggest stage, but also to inspire the next generation of players and fans.
World Netball president praises England's track record
Dame Liz Nicholl DBE, president of World Netball, pointed to the lasting impact of England's previous hosting experience.
England last hosted our pinnacle event in 2019, for which the legacy still lives on globally through Net2019 legacy projects in Zambia and Argentina, as well as in Great Britain where 160,000 women were inspired to start playing or play more netball because of the event.
Nicholl expressed confidence in England's ability to deliver another successful tournament.
After reviewing their strong bid, I am confident England Netball will host another thrilling international event, and I am excited to see what we can achieve together in 2031 and beyond.
England netball chief executive outlines growth ambitions
Fran Connolly, England netball chief executive, framed the 2031 World Cup as a transformative opportunity for women's sport in the UK.
This World Cup gives us a powerful platform to grow the visibility, profile and impact of women's sport and netball across the UK.
Connolly referenced the recent success of the Netball Super League Grand Final at Co-op Live as evidence that Manchester possesses the infrastructure and atmosphere required for a major international event.
Having witnessed the spectacle of Netball Super League Grand Final at Co-op Live earlier this summer, we know Manchester is the perfect stage on which to take our sport to another level.
She described the conditions that enabled that success.
The energy, atmosphere and ambition we saw in the arena demonstrated what is possible when women's sport is given the platform and investment it deserves.
Looking ahead to 2031, Connolly outlined the strategic benefits of hosting.
Hosting the World Cup in Manchester will allow us to showcase the very best of our sport to a global audience, inspire more people to pick up a netball, and create a lasting legacy for players, fans and communities.
What comes next for England netball
Before the 2031 tournament, England must navigate the 2027 World Cup in Sydney and, under the newly revised competition cycle, a 2029 edition. The shift to a two-year format represents a significant change to the sport's international calendar, increasing the frequency of the pinnacle event and offering more regular opportunities for nations to compete at the highest level.
