Mayor Khan hails London as

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has hailed the capital as the “undisputed global capital for women’s sport” after the sector pulled in £55m in 2025.

City Hall research claims that events such as the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, the WTA event at Queen’s and the Hundred all contributed to £55m being delivered into the capital’s economy.

It comes amid London’s interest in hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships and the capital’s expected involvement in the Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2035 – in which a Home Nations submission is the only bid.

Khan said: “London is the undisputed global capital for women’s sport and our new report shows the significant boost it provides for our economy.

“From the thrilling Women’s Rugby World Cup Final to the historic return of women’s tennis to the Queen’s Club, 2025 was an amazing year for women’s sport in the capital.”

The boost could be a double-edged sword for London, however, with its success model potentially leading to other British cities wanting to get in on the act.

The government is planning to explore a bid to host the Olympic Games in the 2040s centred on the north of England, in a move the Mayor said should include London.

Added Khan: “I’m proud that we have built a strong pipeline of women’s sporting events coming to London, including the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, as well as the Tour de France Femmes and EuroHockey Championships next year.”

The next major women’s sport event taking place this year in the capital will see Serena Williams return to tennis at the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club.

She is partnering with Canadian Victoria Mboko in the women’s doubles tournament ahead of a sting in Berlin. The 44-year-old could then return to London to play in Wimbledon should she receive a wild card from the All England Club.