The United States and Mexico withdrew their joint bid for the 2027 Women's World Cup on Monday, weeks before FIFA was scheduled to vote on hosting the tournament at a meeting in Bangkok.
In a joint statement, the U.S. and Mexican federations announced that their focus will now shift toward a successful bid for the 2031 Games.
The shock decision comes as FIFA officials prepare to vote on the 2027 host country at the world governing body's meeting in Bangkok on May 17.
The withdrawal of the United States and Mexico leaves two competing bids for the tournament: a joint bid from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, and a solo bid from Brazil.
The end of the U.S. and Mexico bids came after FIFA announced earlier Monday that the host city for the 2027 tournament will be decided in a public vote for the first time during next month's FIFA General Assembly in Thailand.
The United States had bid to host women's soccer's flagship event for the third time after successfully hosting it in 1999 and 2003.
Had the US and Mexico's bid for 2027 been successful, it would have brought another major sporting event to North America in what has become a crowded calendar for the region.
The United States, Mexico and Canada are already preparing to host the 2026 Men's World Cup, and Los Angeles is gearing up to host the 2028 Olympics.
The United States will also host next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup, and will also host this year's 16-team Copa America.
U.S. Soccer says waiting until 2031 will give organizers more leeway to plan for the tournament while absorbing lessons from hosting the 2026 Men's World Cup in the region. Stated.
“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking, and additional time to prepare will allow us to maximize its impact around the world,” U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cohn said in a statement. Ta. “We are proud of our commitment to providing a fair experience for players, fans and all concerned. By making changes to our bid we will host a record Women’s World Cup in 2031. We will be able to contribute to the growth and advancement of the women's game not only here at home but also around the world.”
Ivar Cisniega, president of the Mexican Football Federation, echoed Parlow Cone's position.
“After careful analysis, we believe that postponing the bid to 2031 will allow us to promote and strengthen the most successful Women's World Cup in history,” Cisniega said.
“The strength and universality of our Women's Professional League, combined with our experience in running the 2026 World Cup, means we can offer the best infrastructure and passionate fan base that will make all participating teams feel at home.” Our goal is to host a World Cup that contributes to the continued growth of soccer. ”
Last year's Women's World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand.
The last time this tournament was held in North America was in 2015 when Canada hosted it.
The United States is the most successful nation in women's competition, winning the World Cup four times.
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© Agence France-Presse
