The Bay Area, which will host men’s World Cup matches next summer, could be in the running to put on games for the women’s edition of the tournament in 2031.
The Bay Area Host Committee is “actively reviewing” the area’s bid to host matches when the international tournament returns to American soil, BAHC president and CEO Zaileen Janmohamed said in a statement late Thursday night. The San Francisco Business Times first reported the Bay Area’s bid earlier Thursday.
“We know it will be a competitive field, but we think the Bay Area has a tremendous story to tell as a premier sports and entertainment destination in the United States and beyond,” Janmohamed said.
Chase Center and Oracle Arena hosted NBA All-Star weekend in February, with ancillary events throughout the area around the Warriors’ San Francisco home arena. The NFL world will descend on the Bay in February 2026 when the Super Bowl is played at Levi’s Stadium, four months before the 49ers’ home stadium hosts six matches in the men’s World Cup.
“The experience of hosting those events, coupled with the unprecedented energy around women’s sports in the Bay right now with Bay FC, the upcoming NWSL championship match (at PayPal Park) and the Golden State Valkyries leading the WNBA in attendance, put us in a great position to potentially pursue this bid,” Janmohamed said.
The 2031 women’s World Cup will be played at stadiums throughout the U.S. and Mexico, FIFA confirmed earlier this year by announcing the North American entry was the only “valid bid” the organization received. For the first time, the competition will expand to 48 teams.
The bid initially appeared to feature only the United States, but Mexico confirmed its participation in May and hinted that other countries in the CONCACAF region could host matches, too.
Cities have until November to officially submit their bids for games in the 2031 edition. According to the Business Times, U.S. Soccer has bids from at least 29 cities to host matches.
The Bay Area was involved the first time the U.S. hosted the women’s World Cup, in 1999. The U.S. beat Brazil in a semifinal match at Stanford Stadium to reach the final, which San Jose’s Brandi Chastain memorably won at the Rose Bowl on a penalty kick. Several games — and the final group draw — were also held at Spartan Stadium in San Jose.
Four years later, the tournament was again held stateside, but the Bay Area did not host any matches as Germany won and the U.S. finished third.