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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Potential host cities talk 2031 Women's World Cup after U.S. Soccer initiates selection process
The next five years could be an extraordinary era for soccer fans in the United States — if all goes to plan. The much-hyped, still-unproven, revamped and expanded FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on Saturday and the men's World Cup is set to land here in summer 2026, when the U.S. co-hosts the tournament with Canada and Mexico. However, some organizers are already looking to the 2031 Women's World Cup. Advertisement U.S. Soccer shared bid information for that tournament at the end of May with 29 potential host cities across the nation, according to multiple people familiar with the planning. 'We've received the documents from U.S. Soccer,' Meg Kane, the executive director of the Philadelphia World Cup Host Committee, said during this week's 2026 men's World Cup host committee event in New York. 'There's incredible enthusiasm for the Women's World Cup.' Executive director for the Dallas Sports Commission, Monica Paul, said they've also received bid documents, but with the more imminent tournaments, they have not had a chance to review the 2031 documents closely enough to see what differs from the 2026 tournament. This Women's World Cup is very, very important to me as a woman, but also as somebody working in Dallas, trying to build the landscape, seeing the growth of women's sports in Dallas,' Paul said at the 2026 host event on Monday. 'This is something that's … at the top of our list for the future.' The list of cities is not exclusive, and the door remains open to additional ones interested in throwing their hats into the ring. But time is running short, especially with the news that the 2031 version of the tournament is expanding to 48 teams from the current 32. Advertisement Cities are expected to make a verbal commitment by September, with formal bids due by late November, according to sources familiar with the process. As Sports Business Journal reported last month, the FIFA Congress is expected to approve the hosting roles for the U.S. and Mexico, as well as possible additional countries from the Concacaf region, on April 30 in the Canadian city of Vancouver. Those on the U.S. side of planning are juggling hosting the upcoming men's tournament with what's to come in 2031, including determining the balance of the NFL to smaller stadiums. This is made even more difficult, according to sources, considering maintaining equity with the expanding tournament that will inevitably include smaller match-ups. The economic impact of any World Cup relies strongly on tourism and funding for transportation, security and fan festivals. With the 2026 men's World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, many state and federal governments have already invested taxpayer dollars and public funds — something that may complicate the equation for 2031. For the 2026 men's World Cup, 17 American cities made the shortlist to host games, and 11 were selected. It will be the most ambitious World Cup yet, with 48 teams from the six global confederations playing 104 games across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in just over five weeks. Advertisement The host nations involved in the 2026 tournament have already completed FIFA's meticulous bidding process, meeting infrastructure demands such as a minimum number of stadiums with specific seating capacities, hotel accommodations, an efficient transportation network, as well as navigating security protocols, and committing millions of dollars to logistics and fan engagement. For example, Miami-Dade County, which will host seven men's World Cup matches in 2026, is predicting $46 million in costs between cash subsidies, police services and other host-related expenses. Atlanta, which is hosting eight matches in 2026, has considered these costs, but is still eager to host games in 2031. 'Having flexibility on the fundraising side will be very important for us because, again, there's always so much public money that we can secure from the state or city to help publicly subsidize it, so we have to get the rest from the private sector,' CEO of Atlanta's host committee, Dan Corso, said. 'I think if we could get ahead of the public fundraising now for 2031 and maybe loosen up some of the categories that have been restricted currently for 2026. If we can open that up a little bit earlier and a little more broadly for us to go after more companies, I think that would help.' However, with training facilities, transport plans and citywide activation strategies already in place, the existing host cities are well positioned to host again, with far less friction, in 2031. And as women's soccer continues to surge in popularity in the United States, these places have a chance to cement their status as true soccer cities, not just once, but twice in a decade. Advertisement 'We're going to sit with the U.S. Soccer here in a few months, whenever they call that summit together for all the cities that are interested, and really go through the big specs with them and get their perspective of what they think they could do to help cities,' Corso said. 'We look forward to that opportunity, but I think cities that are hosting 2026 that are interested in 2031 are taking a lot of notes on what we could apply in 2031 and make it a bit more palatable in some ways.' Even a year out, some 2026 hosts are running into budget-related issues. In California's Bay Area, the issue of money not covered through the host committee's private investment or sponsorships will likely be covered by the NFL's San Francisco 49ers for operating matches at their home of Levi's Stadium. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the fee could be as much as $37 million, though the hope is that much of that can be offset. 'I want to bid, but for me to bid it, I'm running a business, so it has to work for the business,' Zaileen Janmohamed, the president and CEO of California's Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), told at the same World Cup event in New York this week. 'We've had a lot of learning from the men's World Cup bid and what's worked and not worked in our region.' San Francisco, and more so the broader Bay Area, is well positioned to take advantage of the world's biggest women's soccer tournament, too. It has a successful NWSL team, Bay FC, and a team in the amateur USL W league, Oakland Soul. The women's youth soccer scene is also strong in the Bay Area. That region of northern California also has multiple venues available for the big event, including the NFL's 68,500-seat Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, which will host 2026 men's World Cup games; San Jose's PayPal Park with an 18,000 capacity, where Bay FC plays home games; and men's second-tier team Oakland Roots' home at the 63,000-seat Oakland Coliseum. Advertisement Kansas City is another place with both interest and the ability to host in 2031. According to its host committee president and CEO, Kathy Nelson, Kansas City is going to bid. As one of the epicenters of women's soccer investment, boasting CPKC Stadium, one of the world's first purpose-built professional women's sports arenas, with its 11,500 seats, the Women's World Cup is a natural fit for the city. The same goes for New York. Sources close to the NY/NJ host committee are confident the Big Apple will bid to host as well. In Texas, both Dallas and Houston also seem to be interested in hosting matches in the tournament. 'We are reviewing those documents,' Houston's host committee president Chris Canetti told While that body did not make a firm commitment to bid, Canetti said it is likely to do so: 'There's usually not an event that comes out where Houston doesn't want to be a part of it. So my guess would be, at the end of the day, Houston will be very aggressive when it comes to wanting to bring the Women's World Cup to town.' Advertisement Paul also spoke about potentially bidding for 2031 for Dallas. According to Paul, Dallas, which recently wrapped up the inaugural season of its new professional women's team, Dallas Trinity FC, in the USL Super League, is already thinking about how to leverage the moment not just for a potential World Cup bid, but to boost youth development and the broader women's soccer ecosystem. In Miami, host committee president and CEO Alina Hudak won't be making the final call, but she noted that the area's leaders are exploring the opportunity. 'We're a city that loves to host major sporting events and, so, as a resident, I would welcome the opportunity to host a World Cup for women in South Florida,' she said during Monday's host city event. Others remain laser-focused on the men's tournament next year. Boston host committee president Mike Loynd, while enthusiastic about the city's new NWSL team that starts play when the 2026 season kicks off next March, said it's too early to discuss a 2031 bid. Advertisement In Philadelphia, Kane echoed that sentiment. She said her priority is delivering a successful 2026 before turning attention to what comes next, while also acknowledging that the passion for the women's game is growing across the United States. 'Philadelphia, and (the state of) Pennsylvania, would be an outstanding host of the Women's World Cup. Right now, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is very much focused on delivering a great experience for 2026,' she said. Next year's tournament will put host cities' infrastructure on full display. If the numbers add up, some cities may just want to go again. However, the 2031 Women's World Cup will not be just a matter of scale, it will be about impact, as some of the potential host cities told . That tournament won't be a test of whether the cities staging its matches can handle a global soccer crowd, it will be about how seriously they are going to bet on the women's game. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Advertisement US Women's national team, Soccer, International Football, NWSL, Sports Business, UK Women's Football, Women's World Cup 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Potential host cities talk 2031 Women's World Cup after U.S. Soccer initiates selection process
The next five years could be an extraordinary era for soccer fans in the United States — if all goes to plan. The much-hyped, still-unproven, revamped and expanded FIFA Club World Cup kicks off on Saturday and the men's World Cup is set to land here in summer 2026, when the U.S. co-hosts the tournament with Canada and Mexico. However, some organizers are already looking to the 2031 Women's World Cup. Advertisement U.S. Soccer shared bid information for that tournament at the end of May with 29 potential host cities across the nation, according to multiple people familiar with the planning. 'We've received the documents from U.S. Soccer,' Meg Kane, the executive director of the Philadelphia World Cup Host Committee, said during this week's 2026 men's World Cup host committee event in New York. 'There's incredible enthusiasm for the Women's World Cup.' Executive director for the Dallas Sports Commission, Monica Paul, said they've also received bid documents, but with the more imminent tournaments, they have not had a chance to review the 2031 documents closely enough to see what differs from the 2026 tournament. This Women's World Cup is very, very important to me as a woman, but also as somebody working in Dallas, trying to build the landscape, seeing the growth of women's sports in Dallas,' Paul said at the 2026 host event on Monday. 'This is something that's … at the top of our list for the future.' The list of cities is not exclusive, and the door remains open to additional ones interested in throwing their hats into the ring. But time is running short, especially with the news that the 2031 version of the tournament is expanding to 48 teams from the current 32. Cities are expected to make a verbal commitment by September, with formal bids due by late November, according to sources familiar with the process. As Sports Business Journal reported last month, the FIFA Congress is expected to approve the hosting roles for the U.S. and Mexico, as well as possible additional countries from the Concacaf region, on April 30 in the Canadian city of Vancouver. Those on the U.S. side of planning are juggling hosting the upcoming men's tournament with what's to come in 2031, including determining the balance of the NFL to smaller stadiums. This is made even more difficult, according to sources, considering maintaining equity with the expanding tournament that will inevitably include smaller match-ups. Advertisement The economic impact of any World Cup relies strongly on tourism and funding for transportation, security and fan festivals. With the 2026 men's World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, many state and federal governments have already invested taxpayer dollars and public funds — something that may complicate the equation for 2031. For the 2026 men's World Cup, 17 American cities made the shortlist to host games, and 11 were selected. It will be the most ambitious World Cup yet, with 48 teams from the six global confederations playing 104 games across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada in just over five weeks. The host nations involved in the 2026 tournament have already completed FIFA's meticulous bidding process, meeting infrastructure demands such as a minimum number of stadiums with specific seating capacities, hotel accommodations, an efficient transportation network, as well as navigating security protocols, and committing millions of dollars to logistics and fan engagement. For example, Miami-Dade County, which will host seven men's World Cup matches in 2026, is predicting $46 million in costs between cash subsidies, police services and other host-related expenses. Atlanta, which is hosting eight matches in 2026, has considered these costs, but is still eager to host games in 2031. 'Having flexibility on the fundraising side will be very important for us because, again, there's always so much public money that we can secure from the state or city to help publicly subsidize it, so we have to get the rest from the private sector,' CEO of Atlanta's host committee, Dan Corso, said. 'I think if we could get ahead of the public fundraising now for 2031 and maybe loosen up some of the categories that have been restricted currently for 2026. If we can open that up a little bit earlier and a little more broadly for us to go after more companies, I think that would help.' Advertisement However, with training facilities, transport plans and citywide activation strategies already in place, the existing host cities are well positioned to host again, with far less friction, in 2031. And as women's soccer continues to surge in popularity in the United States, these places have a chance to cement their status as true soccer cities, not just once, but twice in a decade. 'We're going to sit with the U.S. Soccer here in a few months, whenever they call that summit together for all the cities that are interested, and really go through the big specs with them and get their perspective of what they think they could do to help cities,' Corso said. 'We look forward to that opportunity, but I think cities that are hosting 2026 that are interested in 2031 are taking a lot of notes on what we could apply in 2031 and make it a bit more palatable in some ways.' Even a year out, some 2026 hosts are running into budget-related issues. In California's Bay Area, the issue of money not covered through the host committee's private investment or sponsorships will likely be covered by the NFL's San Francisco 49ers for operating matches at their home of Levi's Stadium. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the fee could be as much as $37 million, though the hope is that much of that can be offset. 'I want to bid, but for me to bid it, I'm running a business, so it has to work for the business,' Zaileen Janmohamed, the president and CEO of California's Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), told The Athletic at the same World Cup event in New York this week. 'We've had a lot of learning from the men's World Cup bid and what's worked and not worked in our region.' San Francisco, and more so the broader Bay Area, is well positioned to take advantage of the world's biggest women's soccer tournament, too. It has a successful NWSL team, Bay FC, and a team in the amateur USL W league, Oakland Soul. The women's youth soccer scene is also strong in the Bay Area. That region of northern California also has multiple venues available for the big event, including the NFL's 68,500-seat Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, which will host 2026 men's World Cup games; San Jose's PayPal Park with an 18,000 capacity, where Bay FC plays home games; and men's second-tier team Oakland Roots' home at the 63,000-seat Oakland Coliseum. Kansas City is another place with both interest and the ability to host in 2031. According to its host committee president and CEO, Kathy Nelson, Kansas City is going to bid. As one of the epicenters of women's soccer investment, boasting CPKC Stadium, one of the world's first purpose-built professional women's sports arenas, with its 11,500 seats, the Women's World Cup is a natural fit for the city. The same goes for New York. Sources close to the NY/NJ host committee are confident the Big Apple will bid to host as well. Advertisement In Texas, both Dallas and Houston also seem to be interested in hosting matches in the tournament. 'We are reviewing those documents,' Houston's host committee president Chris Canetti told The Athletic. While that body did not make a firm commitment to bid, Canetti said it is likely to do so: 'There's usually not an event that comes out where Houston doesn't want to be a part of it. So my guess would be, at the end of the day, Houston will be very aggressive when it comes to wanting to bring the Women's World Cup to town.' Paul also spoke about potentially bidding for 2031 for Dallas. According to Paul, Dallas, which recently wrapped up the inaugural season of its new professional women's team, Dallas Trinity FC, in the USL Super League, is already thinking about how to leverage the moment not just for a potential World Cup bid, but to boost youth development and the broader women's soccer ecosystem. A post shared by Dallas Trinity FC (@dallastrinityfc) In Miami, host committee president and CEO Alina Hudak won't be making the final call, but she noted that the area's leaders are exploring the opportunity. 'We're a city that loves to host major sporting events and, so, as a resident, I would welcome the opportunity to host a World Cup for women in South Florida,' she said during Monday's host city event. Others remain laser-focused on the men's tournament next year. Boston host committee president Mike Loynd, while enthusiastic about the city's new NWSL team that starts play when the 2026 season kicks off next March, said it's too early to discuss a 2031 bid. In Philadelphia, Kane echoed that sentiment. She said her priority is delivering a successful 2026 before turning attention to what comes next, while also acknowledging that the passion for the women's game is growing across the United States. 'Philadelphia, and (the state of) Pennsylvania, would be an outstanding host of the Women's World Cup. Right now, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is very much focused on delivering a great experience for 2026,' she said. Advertisement Next year's tournament will put host cities' infrastructure on full display. If the numbers add up, some cities may just want to go again. However, the 2031 Women's World Cup will not be just a matter of scale, it will be about impact, as some of the potential host cities told The Athletic. That tournament won't be a test of whether the cities staging its matches can handle a global soccer crowd, it will be about how seriously they are going to bet on the women's game. Adam Crafton and Melanie Anzidei contributed to this reporting.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TCU, North Texas announced as base camps for 2026 FIFA World Cup
There is one year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the organizing committee on Wednesday had a news conference announcing partners, economic impact on the region, and how local universities would be involved. The North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee announced six locations as base camps where teams would be able to train and stay before the games kick off, with TCU, North Texas, Dallas Baptist, University of Dallas, Mansfield Stadium and Toyota Stadium as locations. Organizing committee president Monica Paul explained why North Texas and TCU made sense as locations. 'FIFA is looking for base camps that have infrastructure that are already built in for those teams to train at, and knowing that our universities throughout the region have the fields that are already there, but have the media center, the training rooms, the medical facilities that are needed, I think are critical for them, It's great that all of our universities and even places here like Toyota Stadium as well as I'm sure the new Mansfield stadium facility will have that infrastructure, so there's not a need to augment other operational services,' said Paul. Base camps are for teams traveling into the region and give them a place to train, do media and have nearby hotel space until the World Cup commences, though Paul said they wouldn't know until February or March of 2026 whether all six base camps would be utilized. Paul also said tickets for the events would go on sale in Q3 of 2025, July to September, but that suites and other ticket packages can be purchased at Paul also announced the massive economic impact, as forecast by Deloitte, of $1.5 billion to $2.1 billion. With heightened concerns over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the actions of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Paul was unable to say whether the organizations would be involved in security, but explained how the committee was working with the federal government. 'We're in conversations with the FIFA government relations team we had up in Washington, D.C., earlier in May to meet with Andrew Giuliani (head of the White House's World Cup Task Force) … but it's been set up specifically to address federal questions, working with federal agencies, how they're going to monitor and work with the World Cup,' said Paul. 'So we're going to continue to have those conversations, but at the same time focus on doing what is in our control here locally to ensure we're able to be successful all the way from safety to security to transportation to legacy, sustainability, human rights initiatives, volunteer services, and then continue to engage in those conversations.' CBP has stated on social media that agents will be at Saturday's Club World Cup event in Miami Gardens, Florida.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
North Texas unveils World Cup plans with matches, media hub, and stadium name push
With exactly one year to go until the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, organizers in North Texas are unveiling new details about the region's role in hosting the world's largest sporting event. Stadium name sparks discussion Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, speaks during a news conference on Wednesday. CBS News Texas Nine matches are scheduled to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which FIFA has officially designated as "Dallas Stadium" for the tournament. However, local organizers have submitted a petition to rename it "Arlington Dallas Stadium" or "Dallas Arlington Stadium," though no decision has been made yet. The proposed name change reflects a desire to better represent the host city of Arlington while maintaining the global recognition of Dallas. The final decision is still pending, but it has sparked conversation among local leaders and fans alike. Dallas to host global media The impact of the World Cup will extend far beyond the stadium. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas will serve as the International Broadcast Center, drawing thousands of media professionals from around the globe. Training camps across region In addition, six base camp locations will be established across North Texas, including TCU, UNT, Dallas Baptist University, Toyota Stadium, Mansfield Stadium, and the University of Dallas in Irving. These facilities will serve as training and lodging sites for teams, staff, and media in the weeks leading up to their matches. Fan fest to energize region A 39-day fan festival is also planned, promising to bring energy and excitement to the region throughout the tournament. The festival is expected to attract fans from around the world and showcase the cultural vibrancy of North Texas. Organizers highlight cultural impact Monica Paul, president of the North Texas FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, emphasized the significance of the event during a news conference at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. "The passion, the energy of the soccer… They are here to celebrate sport and culture that goes along with it, so we're very excited to welcome the world to Dallas," Paul said. Economic boost projected She also noted that updated projections estimate the World Cup will generate between $1.5 and $2.1 billion in economic impact for the region, with more than half of the visitors expected to come from outside the United States. Security plans underway Paul added that safety and security remain top priorities, with coordination underway between FIFA and both state and federal agencies to ensure a safe and seamless experience for all attendees. The first match at AT&T Stadium is scheduled for June 14, 2026.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Watch Live: North Texas FIFA World Cup committee to update on preparations with 1 year to go
With just one year to go until the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in North Texas, anticipation is mounting. On Wednesday, Monica Paul, executive director of the Dallas Sports Commission and president of the North Texas FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Committee, will lead a news conference at 3 p.m. at Toyota Stadium in Frisco to provide updates on the region's preparations. North Texas is set to host nine matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, including: Five group stage matches Two round of 32 matches One Round of 16 match One semifinal match Key match dates at AT&T Stadium: Group stage: June 14, 17, 22, 25, and 27, 2026 Round of 32: June 30 and July 3, 2026 Round of 16: July 6, 2026 Semifinal: July 14, 2026 Officials estimate the tournament will generate an economic impact of $1.5 billion to $2.1 billion for the North Texas region. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas will serve as the international broadcast center, accommodating an expected 3,000 to 5,000 international media professionals. Dallas previously hosted six matches during the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the historic Cotton Bowl. How to watch 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations What : North Texas FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Committee provides updates on preparations Date: June 11, 2025 Time: 3 p.m. Location: Toyota Stadium – Frisco, Texas Online stream: Live on CBS News Texas in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device. Note: Streaming plans are subject to change
