Two U.S. World Cups in Two Years?

American soccer is already counting on a major boost in profile when the U.S., Mexico, and Canada host the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now, the U.S. is one step closer in its hopes of hosting the women’s edition a year later.

A joint U.S.-Mexico bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is just one of three remaining options after South Africa withdrew its bid in an effort to focus on winning the right to host the 2031 edition. The South African Football Association called the time frame for developing a 2027 bid “challenging.”

The U.S. and Mexico are now competing with a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as a solo bid from Brazil. FIFA plans on naming a 2027 host at its next congress meeting in May. Final full bids are due by Dec. 8, and FIFA will make on-site inspection visits in February.

The process is playing out much differently from the recent awarding of the men’s tournament, with FIFA having already named hosts for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups before they are formally set this coming May.

New Home For Soccer

Should the U.S. and Mexico secure the 2027 Women’s World Cup, that would set up a two-year run of FIFA’s top international events in North America, bookended by the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The U.S. will also host the 2024 Copa America, featuring top national teams from both North and South America.