The “vast majority” of 2031 Women’s World Cup games “will be held in the U.S.” despite regional talks, according to Henry Bushnell of YAHOO SPORTS. Canada and Mexico, as well as others, “could share side stages” at the tournament, but “all the main stages will be in the States.” The U.S. Soccer Federation will “outline its vision in an official bid” by the end of the year, but rather than competing against other potential hosts, it will “be negotiating with FIFA.” FIFA will “also negotiate with U.S. cities and stadiums, and eventually select around a dozen venues for the 2031 tournament,” which could include many of the 11 NFL stadiums slated to host 2026 men’s World Cup matches. Sources said that “others are also keen to be involved.” Bushnell notes some of the 2026 host cities and stadiums “have been frustrated by the one-sided agreements” governing men’s World Cup preparations, which “contributed to the withdrawal” of U.S. Soccer’s joint bid with Mexico for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Since that decision, officials at U.S. Soccer, FIFA and elsewhere have come closer to “agreement on what U.S. Soccer initially called ‘an integrated partnership model that brings host cities, stadiums, partners and FIFA together’” rather than the current model, which “allows FIFA to reap most of the benefits.” FIFA’s “confidence in those negotiations, and in the financial potential of the U.S. market,” led its ruling council and President Gianni Infantino to “essentially rig the 2031 bidding process in America’s favor” (YAHOO SPORTS, 4/3).
QUESTIONS ACROSS THE POND: SKYSPORTS.com’s Anton Toloui wrote the U.K.’s bid being the only one for the 2035 Women’s World Cup is “exceptional news” for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It gives the countries a “full decade to plan what they hope will be the biggest women’s football tournament of all time.” But questions “still remain.” Toloui: “How will an expanded 48-team tournament look, will all or any of the home nations automatically qualify and which stadiums will be made available?” It is “surprising no other nations put in a viable bid,” which “shows the commercial and infrastructure challenges that come with hosting the tournament” (SKYSPORTS.com, 4/3). BBC.com’s Andy Gray wrote that Windsor Park, Northern Ireland’s National Stadium, “will be put forward as a stadium for the tournament” unlike the 2028 men’s Euro 2028 finals. The stadium has a capacity of 18,500, which is 1,500 seats “shy of the Fifa’s criteria to host group games and some knockout matches.” This is a “precedent for stadiums that do not have the stated 20,000 capacity requirement to be used with three stadiums at the 2023 edition.” However, Windsor Park “should be able to accommodate the increased number, with potential space for more seating” (BBC.com, 4/3).
