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United States’ Sophia Smith, right, celebrates her goal against Canada with teammates during the shoot out of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Canada’s Ashley Lawrence, left, tries to dribble around United States’ Crystal Dunn during the second half of a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
By RONALD BLUM (AP Sports Writer)
NEW YORK — The U.S. Soccer Federation and its Mexican counterpart dropped their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup on Monday and said they will focus on trying to host the 2031 tournament.
The decision left a proposal from Brazil and a joint Germany-Netherlands-Belgium plan competing to be picked for 2027 by the FIFA congress that meets May 17 in Bangkok.
The USSF said the 2031 bid will call for FIFA to invest equally in the men’s and women’s World Cups.
FIFA said last year it planned to spend $896 million in combined prize money to teams and payments to clubs for releasing players for the 2026 men’s World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. FIFA devoted $110 million in prize money for last year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from a $152 million fund that included payments to clubs.
“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking — and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe,” USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement. “I’m proud of our commitment to provide equitable experiences for the players, fans and all our stakeholders. Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women’s World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women’s game both here at home as well as across the globe.”
In detailing the bid in December, the USSF proposed U.S. sites from among the same 11 to be used in the 2026 men’s World Cup. Mexico listed Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey — its three sites for the men’s World Cup — and for 2027 listed as possibilities Leon and Querétaro.
“We feel that moving our bid back to 2031 will allow us to promote and build up to the most successful Women’s World Cup ever,” MFF President Ivar Sisnieg said in a statement. “The strength and universality of our professional women’s leagues, coupled with our experience from organizing the 2026 World Cup, means that we will be able to provide the best infrastructure as well as an enthusiastic fan base that will make all the participating teams feel at home and to put together a World Cup that will contribute to the continued growth of women’s football.”
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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