Chicago and Portland, Oregon, have entered the bidding process as potential host cities for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States but did not host any 2026 Men’s World Cup games because of what officials said at the time were FIFA’s burdensome financial demands.
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A source with knowledge of the process told ESPN that commitments from potential 2031 host cities are currently more open-ended, non-binding commitments. Several host cities publicly fought with FIFA earlier this year over various expenses that they were expected to cover for the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
Neither Chicago nor Portland was listed in the original, non-binding bid book that was submitted to FIFA last year for the 2031 event. That bid book included 27 potential U.S. host cities.
The U.S. is bidding to co-host the 2031 Women’s World Cup with Mexico, Jamaica and Costa Rica. The bid is unopposed and expected to be confirmed by FIFA at an extraordinary congress on Nov. 23.
FIFA will narrow down host cities and venues in the coming years.
The Athletic first reported the news of Chicago and Portland entering the bidding process.
Chicago would potentially have multiple options for host stadiums. Soldier Field, the home of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, holds over 60,000 fans and sits near the city center. U.S. organizers pitched an ambitious plan to FIFA for 2031 and could play games entirely at NFL-sized stadiums.
FIFA requires a minimum stadium capacity of 20,000 for Women’s World Cup group stage matches.
MLS’ Chicago Fire are expected to open a new 22,000-seat stadium in 2028.
Portland’s Providence Park is considered one of the best soccer venues in the country. It is home to the NWSL’s Portland Thorns and MLS’ Portland Timbers. The venue holds over 25,000 fans.
Providence Park has an artificial turf surface and would require natural grass to be laid over the top to host games.
Soldier Field previously hosted games at the 1994 Men’s World Cup and the 1999 Women’s World Cup. The U.S. women played a group-stage match in front of over 65,000 fans during the 1999 event.
A joint bid by England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is also running unopposed to host the 2035 Women’s World Cup and is expected to be confirmed on Nov. 23.
