England to Host 2031 Netball World Cup

England has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2031 Netball World Cup, marking the fourth time the nation will stage the event. World Netball and England Netball announced Thursday that the tournament will take place at Manchester's Co-op Live indoor arena.

This decision comes in England Netball's centenary year. The Co-op Live arena recently hosted the Netball Super League Grand Final, drawing over 8,000 spectators. Liverpool previously hosted the Netball World Cup when England last held the event in 2019. Other past host cities for England include Eastbourne, which hosted the inaugural tournament in 1963, and Birmingham in 1995.

World Netball president Liz Nicholl expressed confidence in England Netball's ability to host another successful event, stating, "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."

Baroness Sue Campbell, chair of England Netball, highlighted the excitement of bringing top netball players to Manchester, adding, "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." England Netball chief executive Fran Connolly noted that the tournament would serve as a "powerful platform to grow the visibility, profile and impact of women's sport and netball across the UK."

The England national team, known as the Roses, reached the World Cup final for the first time in 2023, ultimately finishing as runners-up to 12-time champions Australia in Cape Town. England also secured a second-place finish in 1975 when the tournament was decided by a league format.