‘This is huge’

JAMAICA, ALONG with the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica, has officially bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The countries have pledged to deliver the most impactful tournament in history — one designed to inspire future generations, empower women and girls through sport, and leave a lasting legacy for global football development.

The formal announcement took place in New York City, marking a pivotal milestone in the federations’ campaign to bring the world’s biggest women’s sporting event to North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The joint bid is part of a broader collaboration across Concacaf, with Costa Rica and Jamaica joining the US and Mexico as co-hosting partners to deliver a truly continental celebration of women’s football.

According to Michael Ricketts, president of the Jamaica Football Federation, a successful bid would have uncountable benefits to the women’s game in the country.

“This will have a huge impact on the psyche of every single Jamaican,” said Ricketts.

“It is no ordinary feat for a small country like ours to host World Cup matches. This is absolutely tremendous. We are very hopeful and optimistic that we can put together an experience that is truly memorable for our players and fans. This is huge for Jamaica and for every person who proudly calls themselves Jamaican.”

President of US Soccer Cindy Parlow Cone said leading a collaborative effort of this nature is something that fills her organisation with pride.

“We’re incredibly proud to be leading this bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup alongside our Concacaf partners in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica,” she said.

“Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to host the biggest and most impactful Women’s World Cup in history, one that will inspire a new generation of fans and help grow the women’s game across our entire region and around the world. We’re excited to drive lasting progress for women’s soccer by creating a legacy that reaches far beyond 2031 and sets a new global standard for the sport.”

“Concacaf fully supports this four-nation bid, which embodies our ‘One Concacaf’ philosophy,” said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani.

“Our confederation’s commitment to women’s football has never been stronger, and hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2031 will build on this momentum, inspiring future generations of players and fans across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.”

If selected, the 2031 tournament would be the largest Women’s World Cup in history, welcoming an estimated 4.5 million fans across venues in all four host nations, and setting a new benchmark for excellence both on and off the field. The bid emphasises world-class facilities, athlete-centred environments, and a groundbreaking legacy commitment to reinvest proceeds into the global development of the women’s game.

“This bid is a reflection of our shared belief that soccer can be a force for good,” said JT Batson, US Soccer CEO and secretary general.

“By bringing the Women’s World Cup to North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, we’re not only creating an unforgettable moment for athletes and fans, we’re building a lasting foundation to grow the women’s game at every level, in every country.”

The official bid book and related documentation will be submitted to FIFA in November 2025. The global governing body is expected to officially announce its decision at next year’s FIFA Congress on April 30 in Vancouver.

The federations also announced a joint commitment to collaborate with FIFA to ensure that the legacy of this tournament supports girls’ player development, coaching education, and infrastructure growth across member associations.

“This bid reflects the trust that FIFA and Concacaf have placed in our federations to continue driving the growth of women’s football,” said Mikel Arriola, president of the Mexican Football Federation.

“The 2031 Women’s World Cup will be a historic opportunity to solidify the progress of our sport across the region, and to inspire a new generation of players and fans in Mexico.”

“Joining the United States, Mexico, and Jamaica in this bid represents one of the most positive developments for the growth of football in our country,” said Osael Maroto Martínez, president of the Costa Rican Football Federation. “We firmly believe that we have all the necessary elements to provide the best experience, infrastructure, and human talent in preparation for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. We have already had the opportunity to host two FIFA youth women’s World Cups, in 2014 and 2022. This gives us great confidence in our ability to meet the standards required to host a senior World Cup, working closely with the entire country. For the present and future of our players, and those around the world.”

The ‘For Now. For Next’ bid builds on a long-standing partnership among the federations, and reflects the continued rise of women’s football globally: the 2023 tournament generated an estimated US$570 million in revenue, reached two billion viewers, and attracted 1.9 million fans in stadiums worldwide.