Is the men’s World Cup hindering the women’ 2031 edition as the U.S. prepares to co-host both?

The hope was to build from the 2026 World Cup. Instead, it is holding organizers back.

This summer’s World Cup, less than two months away, has been plagued with controversy, from a host country at war with a participating nation to exorbitant prices making this the most expensive World Cup in recent memory.

Tensions continue between host cities (many of whom will be involved again in 2031) and FIFA, with the latest snafu involving proposed transit costs across various cities. In New Jersey, Gov. Mikie Sherrill has taken a stance against FIFA, in a public spat that continues to escalate around the 2026 final venue. Meanwhile, the White House seems willing to hold the 2031 tournament as collateral for its own political interests.

If the 2031 bid had been confirmed this month as planned, it would have given organizers an unprecedented five-year runway to prepare, bringing it more closely in line with the typical runway for men’s World Cups. Hosts for the 2023 and 2027 Women’s World Cups were each selected three years in advance, while the hosts for the 2026 men’s World Cup were selected eight years prior. Then there’s Qatar, which was selected as the 2022 men’s World Cup host in 2010.

The milestone to select a host early for the Women’s World Cup has been applauded by stakeholders in the game because it allows leaders across the space to better capitalize on the tournament’s momentum. Various figures across U.S. Soccer and even the National Women’s Soccer League have described the 2031 event as a potential “catalyst” for growth.

That historic lead-up continues to dwindle as uncertainty lingers around the bid’s confirmation.

The bid was set to be confirmed on April 30 at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Last month, FIFA changed course, saying publicly it would instead convene an Extraordinary Congress “before the end of 2026” to formally select the 2031 hosts. It would also select the host for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, which is likely to be a joint effort by England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as they are also the sole bidders for that year’s competition.

Federations submitted their official bid book for the 2031 World Cup to FIFA in November, circling 35 markets and 50 stadiums as potential host cities for the tournament across the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. As with most bids, organizers submit more options than needed, with selections dwindling as the planning process unfolds.

Every U.S. and Mexican host city from the 2026 World Cup was also offered as a potential host for 2031 – Atlanta, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. In the case of Miami, though, the city lists Chase Stadium, the former home of Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, rather than Hard Rock Stadium, a 2026 World Cup venue.

Behind the scenes, however, The Athletichas reported that FIFA has found itself unable to officially confirm the bid for 2031 because of missing government guarantees and a tough negotiating stance by U.S. cities and venues, who want a larger slice of the financial pie than they were afforded for the 2026 World Cup. Negotiations for 2031 will likely be informed by whatever happens between now and the men’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

Separately, the White House is seeking to leverage being the only bid for the 2031 event to pressure FIFA to change its policy on transgender players in women’s soccer before providing any government guarantees, according to multiple people familiar with the process, who spoke to The Athleticon condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. This would follow the actions of the International Olympic Committee, which, beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, will effectively ban transgender athletes from competing in any event.

FIFA did not address questions presented by The Athletic about the missing government guarantees or the hesitation of host cities. However, they did provide a statement saying that the FIFA Council had “unanimously decided” to delay the bid confirmations, adding: “It is an identical process to the appointment by acclamation of the hosts of the (men’s) 2030 and 2034 editions of the FIFA World Cup.”

When asked about the White House pressuring FIFA to adopt a policy like the IOC’s ahead of this window, U.S. head coach Emma Hayes said bluntly, “Look, my job is to follow FIFA regulations or IOC regulations – and, yeah, I think that’s all I will say on the matter.” Her focus, as it has been since her hiring, is to qualify for the 2027 World Cup and win it.

Though the guarantees have not arrived, U.S. Soccer sources said there have been “positive dialogues” among the parties involved and say they see “a path forward.”

When announcing the bid in October, Parlow Cone, who was on that World Cup-winning team in 1999, told the room that being in New York City always brings her back to that summer.

She was 21 years old sitting on the team bus next to U.S. Soccer legends Mia Hamm, Carla Overbeck and Julie Foudy, while on their way to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for the opening match of the World Cup.

“All of a sudden, we’re stuck in traffic,” Parlow Cone said. “We are barely moving, and we’re all looking around at each other. We’re getting nervous. We’re looking at our watches, thinking we’re going to be late to the game. We’re wondering, why in the hell is there so much traffic?”

That’s when they realized the roads were jam-packed by fans going to their match. People were honking at the team bus. Car windows painted in red, white and blue. “Our opening match was sold out with 80,000 fans – something most people didn’t think was possible,” she said.

That match set the pace for the remainder of the World Cup, which the U.S. went on to win at home after a nail-biting match against China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Parlow Cone and the rest of the team would be remembered as “the 99ers” who unleashed an explosive momentum for women’s soccer in the U.S. that led the women’s game to where we are today.

Over the last five years, the sport’s growth has only exploded since — not just in the U.S., but around the world.

The success of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which produced swells of support, is a product of that growth. Next year, the first Women’s World Cup on South American soil has the potential to propel the women’s game forward in a continent already in love with the beautiful game.

The goal of the 2031 competition is to continue to inspire investment in the sport’s infrastructure globally.

According to the 2031 bid book, organizers are projecting more than 4.5 million fans will attend the tournament. They predict it will be “the highest TV viewership ever for a women’s sporting event” and project more than $4 billion in total revenue will be generated.

“In 1999, our legacy was growing the women’s game here in the US,” said Parlow Cone. “In 2031, our legacy will be inspiring every country to embrace and invest in women’s soccer, not because it’s the right thing to do, but it’s the smart thing to do. It’s a smart investment.

“There is an extraordinary opportunity to grow the women’s game around the world, and we want this World Cup to help unlock that potential.”

For the USWNT, which has won four World Cups, more than any other nation, to win another World Cup at home would mean more game-changing impact. It would symbolize a full-circle moment for the women’s game in the country, at a time when the sport’s potential for growth feels limitless.

While there are roadblocks to overcome, the U.S. still currently presents the best market to support and showcase the next phase of growth for the tournament. Hopefully, it and FIFA won’t get in their own way.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

US Women's national team, NWSL, Sports Business, Women's Soccer, FIFA Men's World Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup

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