US, Mexico soccer federations announce joint bid for 2027 Women's World Cup
Men's and women's World Cups in the United States in back-to-back years?
That's a possibility after a joint bid by the U.S. Soccer Federation and the Mexican Football Federation for the 2027 Women's World Cup was announced Wednesday.
The U.S., along with Canada and Mexico, already is slated to host the 2026 men's World Cup. That will mark the first time since 1994 that the men's tournament will be played in the U.S. Mexico, meanwhile, has hosted the men's World Cup in 1970 and 1986, but never hosted women's World Cup games. Canada hosted the women's World Cup in 2015, when the USWNT defeated Japan in the final in Vancouver.
"The United States has always been a global leader for the women’s game, and we would be honored to co-host the world’s premier event for women’s soccer along with Mexico," said U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, who played in two World Cups, including the 1999 tournament. "Hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup provides us an incredible opportunity to cap off two historic years of World Cup soccer in the Concacaf region, helping us continue to grow the game among our confederation associations.
"A record six teams from Concacaf will play in the Women’s World Cup this summer, and the United States and Mexico want to continue to push the envelope for the development of women’s soccer across the entire region."
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Women's World Cups in the U.S.
The U.S. has hosted the women's World Cup twice previously. The first time was in 1999, when the USWNT won the tournament in a dramatic penalty kick shootout against China at the Rose Bowl. The U.S. hosted again in 2003, when China was scheduled to host, but the tournament was moved to the U.S. after a severe outbreak of SARS in China that spring.
The USWNT is a four-time World Cup champion, winning in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019. It will be going for a three-peat this summer when Australia and New Zealand co-host the women's World Cup. Only Brazil's men's team has won more World Cups with five.
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Decision on 2027 World Cup to come in 2024
Wednesday was the deadline set by FIFA to submit expressions of interest. Bid agreements are due by May 19 and official bids by Dec. 8. FIFA plans to publish an evaluation report in May 2024 ahead of a vote by FIFA’s Congress that May 17.
South Africa has announced a bid, and Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have announced a joint bid. Brazil’s sports minister has said that nation will bid.
The host for the 2027 women’s World Cup is expected to be named by the FIFA Congress on May 17, 2024.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2027 Women's World Cup co-host bid announced for US and Mexico
