England Secured to Host 2031 Netball World Cup at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena

World Netball and England Netball have officially announced that England will host the Netball World Cup for the fourth time in 2031, with the prestigious quadrennial tournament staged at Manchester’s state-of-the-art Co-op Live indoor arena.

The award arrives during England Netball’s centenary year, providing a powerful commercial platform to accelerate the visibility, economic profile, and growth of women’s sport across the United Kingdom, generating significant tourism revenue and inward investment for municipal partners.

Highlighting the confidence and organisational rigor behind the successful bid, World Netball president, Liz Nicholl, said: “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.”

The commercial and economic implications for the host city are projected to be substantial, leveraging Co-op Live’s modern entertainment infrastructure following its successful staging of the Netball Super League Grand Final in front of thousands of passionate fans.

Expressing his enthusiasm about the announcement, chair of England Netball, Baroness Sue Campbell, shared: “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.”

“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,” Campbell said.

England Netball chief executive, Fran Connolly, added that the tournament will provide a powerful platform to grow the visibility, profile, and impact of women’s sport and netball across the UK.

Furthermore, the announcement arrives as international governing bodies continue their strategic push for netball’s inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia, positioning elite federations to capitalise on surging commercial partnerships, premium broadcasting investments, merchandise sales, and global fan engagement over the coming years as the sport enters a lucrative new era.

Previous editions hosted in England include Eastbourne in 1963, Birmingham in 1995, and Liverpool in 2019, with the upcoming 2031 showcase aligning perfectly with advanced industry plans to implement complete professionalisation across the domestic Netball Super League.

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