U.S., Mexico set joint Women’s World Cup bid

Although bitter rivals on the pitch and in the stands, the U.S. and Mexican soccer federations remain committed to growing the beautiful game on both sides of the border. To that end, Mexico and the U.S. will bid to co-host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Mexico has never held the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The U.S. has played host to it twice, including the 1999 edition that featured Brandi Chastain’s iconic World Cup-winning celebration.

The collaboration between the two Concacaf rivals is no surprise. Mexico, the U.S. and Canada will co-host the 2026 men’s World Cup.

Women’s soccer growth in U.S and Mexico

“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,” U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said. “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.”

Prospective host countries were expected to inform FIFA of their intentions to bid by Thursday, April 19. The formal bidding agreement must be submitted by May 19.

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The U.S. women’s national team has won a record four World Cup titles, including the last two. Mexico has never won a women’s or men’s senior World Cup. The Mexican women’s national team actually failed to qualify for the upcoming Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. 

Ironically, a record six Concacaf nations qualified for this summer’s 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Mexican national team’s failures are in contrast to women’s soccer’s recent growth in Mexico.

Liga MX Femenil has grown in popularity. Attendance for some Liga MX Femenil games rivals and surpasses what is seen in the National Women’s Soccer League. The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol even launched its first MexTourW in the United States for the women’s national team this month.

Strong track record

“Women’s football in Mexico has experienced sustained growth over the last five years,” said FMF president Yon de Luisa. “And its development, both on and off the field, coupled with the female empowerment it has achieved and will continue to achieve, is one of the strategic priorities of the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol.

“It is with pleasure that we are teaming up again with the U.S. Soccer Federation in the pursuit of this World Cup for our region, which will undoubtedly be historic.”

The U.S. first held the Women’s World Cup in 1999, drawing record crowds. That year’s final between the U.S. and China at the Rose Bowl drew a sellout crowd of 90,185, which set a record for a women’s sporting event. 

Four years later, the U.S. Soccer Federation played host again on short notice after the tournament was moved out of China because of the SARS pandemic.

“The United States and Mexico,” Parlow Cone said, “want to continue to push the envelope for the development of women’s soccer across the entire region.”