FIFA President Drops World Cup Hints in Charlotte
At an event promoting Charlotte's 2025 FIFA Club World Cup matches, FIFA President Gianni Infantino dropped some big hints about the 2031 Women's World Cup coming to the Queen City
The 2031 Women’s World Cup is (almost) certainly going to take place in North America, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino fanned the speculative flames about Charlotte as a host location earlier today.
“The 2031 Women’s World Cup will probably take place in this part of the world,” Infantino told a crowd of 50 people at today’s Club World Cup event at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Last week, FIFA announced the United States (with Mexico) had submitted the only valid bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup, a process that had been restricted to CONCACAF (North American and Caribbean) and CAF (African) countries.
“The '31 bid is from the United States of America and potentially some other Concacaf members together … so the path is there for the Women's World Cup to be taking place in '31 and '35 in some great countries and some great nations to boost even more the women's football movement,” Infantino told the UEFA Congress in Belgrade on Thursday.
With the United States as the only valid bidder, the chances of Bank of America Stadium hosting Women’s World Cup matches in 2031 are high, as Charlotte FC owner David Tepper alluded to at today’s event.
“[FIFA] is well aware now - there’s no mistake - that Charlotte is an international soccer city,” said Tepper. “And particularly one of the major places in the United States if you’re having a match like [the Women’s World Cup] you have to come to. I don’t know, we might have to hold them to it, but in 2031 we’ll see what happens.”
Tepper also mentioned that in addition to hosting four Club World Cup matches at Bank of America Stadium this summer, he spoke with FIFA officials about hosting a training camp for one of the 48 national men’s teams coming to North America for the 2026 Men’s World Cup next year. Additionally, general manager Zoran Krneta confirmed Tepper Sports & Entertainment will host one of the Club World Cup teams at Charlotte FC facilities this summer.
Bank of America Stadium is not hosting any matches for the 2026 World Cup, a decision Tepper attributed to the stadium’s previous ownership. However, Infantino made it clear Charlotte is a leading contender to host in 2031.
“Charlotte can be a host city for the Women’s World Cup in 2031,” told reporters in Spanish. “That’s why we are here today: to see how these Club World Cup games are organized in June of this year. If the city reacts how we believe or hope it reacts and with it being in this stadium of course [Charlotte] has a good chance.”
A Former U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Speaks with Soccer Sheet
In an exclusive interview after the event, Soccer Sheet spoke with Former U.S. Women’s National Team manager Jill Ellis about the “high probability” of the 2031 World Cup coming to the United States - and possibly Charlotte.
“I think it will be, obviously, a fantastic opportunity to continue the growth here of women’s soccer in this country,” said Ellis. “There’s nothing like [the Women’s World Cup]. I think they’re amazing - not just spectacles and sporting events - but just an accelerator for our sport.”
Ellis - now the Chief Football Officer of FIFA - mentioned that the women’s professional leagues, international stars, and college programs are all indicative of the strength of women’s soccer in the United States.
“[The Women’s World Cup] adds to the continued growth of where we are in this country,” said Ellis. “I think that hosting a World Cup generates a whole other level of amplification and, I think, participation.”
Charlotte is an International Soccer City
While Infantino is traveling to multiple cities on a media blitz to promote the Club World Cup, he made it clear Charlotte was an important stop for him - and that he’ll be attending some of the Club World Cup matches here.
“Charlotte is already ideally located in the United States, in the middle of everything and has a great airport and a great stadium,” said Infantino. “It is, and has become in such a short period of time thanks to David Tepper and everyone in the city, a great soccer city with a real soccer crowd as well, and we need to foster that. We need to grow that. We need to make it bigger, and that’s why we’re here in Charlotte.”
"Charlotte knows a little bit about big soccer matches and big events," said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “[Club World Cup attendees] will see the energy, passion and commitment of Charlotte.”
Bank of America Stadium will host four matches of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 including two Round of 16 matches, and feature global powers Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The four matches that will be played at Bank of America Stadium include:
Real Madrid (ESP) vs Pachuca (MEX) - June 22
Benfica (POR) vs Bayern Munich (GER) - June 24
Round of 16 - June 28
Round of 16 - June 30
Jorge Torres translated Gianni Infantino’s Spanish-language comments into English for this article.
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