USA and Mexico's bid to host 2027 Women's World Cup receives HUGE boost after South Africa withdraws from race to host the tournament

The joint bid from the United States and Mexico to host the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup was boosted by the withdrawal of South Africa.

Last Friday, it was announced by the South Africa Football Association that the country would back out of its attempts to lure the tournament to Africa for the first time.

'We felt that it was better to present a well-prepared bid for the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup and ensure we put our best foot forward, rather than producing a rushed presentation,' SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao said on the FA's official website.

South Africa's backing out means that the nation's long-shot hopes of hosting both the FIFA Women's World Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup in the same year are dashed.

That now leaves FIFA with three options: one of which is the North American bid from the United States and Mexico.

The two federations announced their intentions to bid for the tournament back in April of this year.

This bid will compete against a solo effort from Brazil as well as a triple-bid from Belgium, Germany, and Holland.

Brazil, Belgium, and Holland have never hosted the Women's World Cup, while Germany hosted the 2011 edition of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the United States has hosted twice: once in 1999 and then again in 2003, taking over for China amidst the SARS outbreak.

Hosting a third time would set the record for the most Women's World Cups hosted by one nation - currently a tie between the USA and China.

It would also follow up the US, Mexico, and Canada hosting the men's World Cup in 2026. That would be the first time in FIFA's history that a country hosted the men's and women's tournament's in back-to-back years.

The United States is set to host the 2024 edition of the Copa America as well.

FIFA's deadline to submit bids is December 8 - with on-site inspections taking place in February and a final decision made on May 17, 2024.