Women's Polo World Championship to Expand to 16 Nations in 2027

The Fédération Internationale de Polo (FIP) announced this week that the 2027 Women's World Championship will double its field to 16 nations, a landmark decision that reflects the extraordinary growth of women's polo across five continents.\n\nThe expansion follows record participation in the 2025 edition held in Australia, where eight nations competed in front of sold-out crowds at the Sydney Polo Club. Argentina claimed the title for the third consecutive time, but the competitive closeness of matches between the USA, Australia, and a resurgent Great Britain signalled that the sport's depth has grown considerably.\n\nNew nations expected to compete in 2027 include Colombia, South Africa, Japan, UAE, and Vietnam — the last being a remarkable story of polo's spread into Southeast Asia. Vietnam's national women's team was founded just three years ago, and has already produced several players competing at 4-goal handicap level.\n\n"This is a watershed moment," said FIP President Maria Consuela Reyes at the announcement in Geneva. "Women's polo has moved from a footnote in the sport's calendar to one of its headline events. The 2027 championship will be the largest in the tournament's history."\n\nThe host nation for 2027 is yet to be confirmed, with bids submitted by the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand. A decision is expected by June 2026.\n\nFor clubs around the world, the FIP has also committed to expanding its Women's Polo Development Fund, providing equipment grants and coaching subsidies to national associations with fewer than 50 registered women players. Applications open in April 2026.