This month, CONCACAF and U.S. Soccer were announced as co-hosts of the 2031 Women’s World Cup. This news has left soccer fans incredibly excited about the potential of seeing their favorite soccer stars in person at some of the best stadiums in the nation–and even the world. The news also comes with questions about where the games will be played, what the tournament will look like with the expansion of teams, and what qualifications it took for the United States to be a host country. Here is what to know about the World Cup coming to the United States in 2031.
Where The Games Will Be Played
Although not wholly official, word has been spreading about the states and countries where the games will be played. As CONCACAF will be a co-host, countries in North America, such as Canada and Central America, could potentially host some of the games. It has been explained that most games and the main stages will be held in the United States. With the men’s 2026 World Cup also being held in the United States, the country will be selecting a dozen venues in the United States, which could include a handful of the 11 NFL Stadiums.
Some states that have been rumored to be playing grounds for the World Cup include Florida and Tennessee. FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, has described Orlando, Florida’s role as a part of the potential future of the World Cup being held in the United States and possibly being the host city. Nashville, Tennessee has also been rumored to be the host city for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. After visiting Nashville last week, Infantino also explained that the city could be an additional candidate to host games.
Although not officially announced, other rumored host cities could include California, Oregon, North Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and many more. Stay tuned for official announcements about where our national team stars could play in 2031!
The Expansion Of Teams
Recently, the Women’s World Cup has been expanded from 32 teams to 48 after the immense success of the 2023 international tournament. On March 5, 2025, the FIFA president hinted that the tournament could be expanded, and the decision became official on April 3, 2025.
The announcement will begin with the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This could complicate how stadiums can be made available and adjusted to the infrastructure challenges that come with hosting so many teams. Rather than 64 games, the tournament will have 104 games.
The Qualifications
Before choosing a bidder, FIFA consults potential host countries on a set of priority areas, including services, commercial matters, sustainability, human rights, and infrastructure.
Some of the infrastructure requirements include having a minimum of 14 suitable stadiums, with a minimum of seven existing stadiums before bidding. Within these stadiums, there must be parking, broadcasting space, video screens, and floodlights, along with a sustainable design. There must also be 72 suitable Team Base Camp Training Site options, paired with a hotel, for the teams to practice. At each host city, there must be a minimum of two FIFA Fan Festival Sites where fans can watch the games live with music, food, and entertainment. With the expansion of teams, the qualifications have become even more rigorous and can automatically place other countries, who had hoped to host, on the chopping block.
Image via Getty Images
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