NEW YORK — The U.S. Soccer Federation has submitted 14 out of 20 potential locations to host matches for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, including seven stadiums that will also be used in next year’s men’s tournament.
On Friday, FIFA revealed the list of bidders for the women’s tournaments in 2031 and 2035. The U.S., along with Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica, is the sole bidder for 2031, while the U.K. has entered a bid for 2035. FIFA is anticipated to ratify the bid during its general meeting on April 30th.
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The bid identifies 26 additional U.S. stadiums as potential venues for the tournament, which aims to attract 4.5 million fans and generate around $4 billion, a significant increase compared to the projected $570 million for Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and the $1 billion forecasted for the 2027 Brazil Games.
Ticket pricing options range from $35 for the most affordable seats at the opening match to $120 to $600 for the final. FIFA has yet to disclose ticket prices for the men’s tournament next year, though it mentioned initial ranges of $60 to $6,730, with these possibly fluctuating based on demand. Premium seats are expected to represent 10-20% of average stadium capacity in 2031, according to bid reports.
A total of 50 locations were offered for the joint bid for 2031, with a final decision likely several years away.
The proposal also mentions that additional cities beyond the 14 listed could be considered as part of the broader bidding strategy, ensuring a diverse selection of venues.
“By offering at least 20 suitable locations, the bidding countries demonstrate their dedication to providing excellent hosting conditions and showcasing global and regional diversity in the tournament,” the document states.
The U.S. venues from the 2026 proposal included Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), Houston (NRG Stadium), Inglewood, California (Sophie Stadium), Kansas City, Missouri (Arrowhead Stadium), and Seattle (Lumen Field).
Other proposed locations are Charlotte, North Carolina (Bank of America Stadium), Denver (Empower Field), Minneapolis (U.S. Bank Stadium), Nashville, Tennessee (Geodis Park), Orlando, Florida (Camping World Stadium), San Diego (Snapdragon Stadium), and Washington, D.C. (a proposed NFL venue at RFK Stadium).
Orlando and Washington have hosted the 1994 Men’s World Cup.
For the upcoming women’s World Cup in Mexico, three venues have been proposed: Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara (Akron), Monterrey (BBVA), along with a potential fourth location in Torreon (Corona).
Plans for national stadiums are also in place for Kingston, Jamaica, and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Additional U.S. possibilities include Foxborough, Massachusetts (Gillette Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), and Santa Clara, California (Levi’s Stadium), all of which will be part of next year’s Men’s World Cup.
Other locations under consideration include Baltimore (M&T Bank Stadium), Birmingham, Alabama (Conservation Stadium), Carson, California (Dignity Health Sports Park), Cincinnati (TQL Stadium), Cleveland (Huntington Bank Field), Columbus, Ohio (Lower.com Field), Frisco, Texas (Toyota Stadium), Glendale, Arizona (State Farm Stadium), Harrison, New Jersey (Sports), Los Angeles (Memorial Coliseum), Miami (Chase Field), Nashville (Nissan Stadium), New York (Etihad Park), Orlando (Inter & Co.), Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl), St. Louis (Energizer Park), San Francisco (Oracle Park), Sandy, Utah (America’s First Field), and Tampa, Florida (Raymond James Stadium).
Secondary choices include Houston (Shell Energy Stadium), Kansas City (CPKC), and Washington, D.C. (Audi Field), which have smaller capacities.
Indianapolis had been mentioned as a possible venue.
Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium is the only location from the 2026 World Cup that was not included.
Chicago is absent from the list after withdrawing its bid for the 2026 tournament, citing FIFA’s excessive financial demands.
Possible additions in Mexico include Pachuca (Miguel Hidalgo) and Queretaro (Corregidora), with Universitario in Monterrey as a potential alternative. In Costa Rica, Saprissa has also been noted as a backup site.
Organizers are planning a fan festival and viewing party alongside the event, with marketing and sponsorship revenues projected to reach $1.4 billion.
Fan Take: This announcement is crucial for soccer fans as it highlights the increasing prominence of women’s soccer on the world stage. The 2031 Women’s World Cup promises to elevate the sport, bringing in global attention and significant economic impact, which could lead to greater opportunities and growth for women’s soccer overall.
