The expected bid by the U.S. and Mexico to co-host the 2031 Women’s World Cup can “face only a rival bid from Africa,” with FIFA yesterday “excluding Europe from the contest,” according to the AP. FIFA also invited bids for the 2035 tournament “only from Europe or Africa.” The four British federations -- England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales -- said that they “would enter the contest,” as well. The soccer governing body said that it “expected to pick hosts for both tournaments at its annual congress next year, likely to be held on the eve of the men’s 2026 World Cup” that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The U.S. and Mexico bid has “been favored to win” 2031 Women’s World Cup hosting rights since last year, when the two federations pulled out of bidding for the 2027 edition. No African country has hosted a Women’s World Cup, with the inaugural edition in 1991. South Africa’s bid in the 2027 contest “was withdrawn months before getting to the vote” (AP, 3/5).
WAITING GAME: In London, Michael Jones noted the declaration of interest from the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be submitted to FIFA “in the first quarter of 2025″ after the bidding timetable was announced by the governing body on the same day as their recommendation. Official bids to host both the 2031 and 2035 Women’s World Cups “must be submitted during the final quarter of this year” with the decision on who will host believed to be made “by the second quarter of 2026″ (London INDEPENDENT, 3/5).
