Costa Rica is one step away from co-hosting the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the biggest tournament in women’s soccer. FIFA said Wednesday that the joint bid Costa Rica shares with the United States, Mexico and Jamaica meets its requirements, sending it to a final vote on Nov. 23.
If the bid is approved, it would be the first time Costa Rica hosts games at the main World Cup, for men or women. It has hosted two youth versions of the women’s tournament, for players under 17 in 2014 and players under 20 in 2022. FIFA’s technical evaluation gave the four-country bid an overall score of 4.4 out of 5. FIFA said the bid cleared its minimum hosting requirements and can go straight to its Extraordinary Congress, where its member federations will vote on the hosts.
The bid proposes 20 stadiums in 20 host cities. Costa Rica has put forward the Estadio Nacional in San José, Jamaica its national stadium in Kingston, and the United States 14 host cities. The 2031 tournament would be the first Women’s World Cup with 48 teams, up from 32, and the first hosted jointly by four countries. The bid aims to draw more than 4.5 million spectators and generate more than $4 billion in revenue.
The Costa Rican Football Federation confirmed Wednesday that FIFA had approved the bid’s technical reports. Its president, Osael Maroto, will lead the delegation to the vote. FIFA inspectors visited Costa Rica on Feb. 15 as part of the evaluation. The joint bid is the only one for 2031. FIFA’s review also cleared a joint bid for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, which goes to the same vote.
How many games Costa Rica would host has not been announced.
