Los Angeles: The United States and Mexico have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, weeks before FIFA is due to vote on the award at a meeting in Bangkok.
In a joint statement from the US and Mexican soccer federations, the two governing bodies said they will now focus on a successful bid for the 2031 tournament.
The surprise decision comes as FIFA officials prepare to choose the 2027 host at the global governing body’s congress in Bangkok in May.
The US and Mexico pullout shows two competing bids – a joint bid from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands – and a solo bid from Brazil.
The end of the US-Mexico rivalry comes after FIFA said on Monday that the host of the 2027 tournament will be decided by open vote for the first time when the FIFA Congress meets in Thailand next month.
The USA is vying to host the women’s flag football event for the third time, having successfully hosted the tournament in 1999 and 2003.
If the US-Mexico 2027 competition is successful, it will mean another major sporting event in North America that has become a crowded calendar for the region.
The United States, Mexico and Canada are preparing to host the 2026 men’s World Cup, while Los Angeles is preparing to host the 2028 Olympics.
“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a big deal, and having the extra time to prepare allows us to increase its global impact,” said USA Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cohn.
“Revising our proposal will allow us to host the Women’s World Cup in 2031, which will help promote and improve the quality of the women’s game at home and around the world.”
Mexican soccer federation president Ivar Cisnega Parlow reiterated Kona’s position.
“After careful analysis, we feel that extending our offer to 2031 will allow us to have the most successful performance and development of the Women’s World Cup,” said Sisnega.
The race was last held in North America in 2015 when Canada was the host.
The United States is the most successful country in the women’s game, having won four World Cups.
