Harris County-Houston Sports Authority CEO Ryan Walsh said that Houston “will bid to be a host city” for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup after hosting men’s games in 2026. Getty Images
Harris County-Houston Sports Authority CEO Ryan Walsh said that Houston “will bid to be a host city” for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup, according to Peter Warren of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Walsh last year said that there was “definitely interest in throwing Houston’s hat in the ring for 2031.” Walsh mentioned that he “feels like the city has lots of momentum” following the city’s 2026 World Cup hosting duties. The FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee noted that attendance for Houston’s seven World Cup matches, pre-match fan marches, FIFA Fan Fest and the Dynamo’s Soccer Celebration “topped 1 million people.” Houston leaders have also “frequently mentioned that the city has received positive feedback from FIFA about their job as a host.” The 2031 Women’s World Cup “isn’t the only major sporting event Houston will aim to host in the coming years.” The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority is also “aiming to be a host city for the 2031 Rugby World Cup.” Houston has already been tapped to host the 2028 UCI BMX Racing World Championships and the 2027 and 2031 AAU Junior Olympics. There is also the “potential of the men’s World Cup coming back to the U.S. in 2038.” Walsh said that it would be a “phenomenal experience to host again in 2038 but that’s something to think more deeply about in a few years once the ground has settled a little bit more” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/27).