Houston in the running to host 2031 Women's World Cup

• The Bayou City has hosted the NCAA Final Four four times, the Super Bowl three times and Copa América three times, and it's already set for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

State of play: The U.S. proposed a joint bid with Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica to host the 2031 tournament.

• The bid lists more than 30 potential host cities, including Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C.
• NRG Stadium is proposed as a primary host site in Houston, with the smaller Shell Energy Stadium listed as an additional option.

Plus, Houston is one of two cities proposed to serve as "referee headquarters" for the 2031 Women's World Cup, according to the bid documents.

What they're saying: Bid documents describe Houston as an "ideal host," citing its global identity, hospitality culture and history in women's sports — including previously hosting CONCACEF women's Olympic qualifiers, the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup.

• "With world-class venues, transit access and a globally connected airport system, Houston is prepared to deliver a seamless tournament," the joint bid documents reads.

The big picture: The 2031 Women's World Cup would run from mid-June to late July, feature 48 teams and is projected to bring in $4 billion in revenue and draw 4.5 million fans into stadiums.

What's next: FIFA will evaluate potential hosts based on criteria, including infrastructure.

• Hosts will be chosen by the 75th FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30, 2026.