United States and Mexico withdraw joint bid for 2027 Women’s World Cup in favor of 2031

The U.S. Soccer Federation and Mexico have decided to withdraw their joint bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in favor of a 2031 bid, leaving proposals from Brazil and a joint Germany-Netherlands-Belgium bid as the only remaining contenders at the FIFA Congress on May 17 in Bangkok.

The USSF announced that their 2031 bid will demand equal investment from FIFA for both men’s and women’s World Cups, with an emphasis on providing equitable experiences for players, fans, and stakeholders. The decision comes after FIFA allocated $110 million in prize money for the 2026 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, while planning to spend $896 million on the 2026 men’s tournament in North America.

Cindy Parlow Cone, President of the USSF, expressed pride in the decision to shift the bid to 2031, stating that hosting a World Cup is a massive undertaking. She believes that by maximizing the impact of the event globally and promoting it properly, they can create an enthusiastic fan base and provide players with exceptional experiences.

In December, the USSF proposed U.S sites for their 2031 bid from eleven locations used in the 2026 men’s World Cup. Mexico listed Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey — three sites for the men’s tournament — along with Leon and Querétaro as possibilities for hosting games in 2027. MFF President Ivar Sisnieg echoed this confidence in Mexico as well, expressing his belief that promoting and building up to a successful Women’s World Cup will be crucial to creating a lasting legacy for this tournament.