CPKC, Arrowhead named in joint bid for 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Kansas City is months away from hosting matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it looks like that won’t be the last time the world’s stage will be coming to the City of Fountains.

A collaborative bid between the United States, Costa Rican, Jamaican and Mexican soccer federations to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup was submitted and includes 50 host sites across the four nations.

Though the bid book is wrong in claiming Kansas City hosted games at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, this is what they had to say about the city’s ability to host:

“The city’s reputation as a premier sports destination is well established. Kansas City hosted matches during the 1994 World Cup, helped launch Major League Soccer through Sporting Kansas City, and will host FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. Its strong infrastructure and fan culture have also supported major events such as the NFL Draft, MLB postseason games, and collegiate championships. With a new state-of-the-art airport terminal, waterfront redevelopment along Berkley Riverfront, and expanded streetcar service, Kansas City is ready to deliver exceptional hospitality and world-class event experiences.”

For Kansas City, both Arrowhead Stadium and CPKC Stadium were mentioned as host sites for the tournament, the former of which also being a host site for next summer’s World Cup.

While Arrowhead has capacity for 76,000 fans, CPKC stands at just 11,500. However, since hearing about a potential expansion in 2024, the bid lists the home of the Kansas City Current as having the capacity for 20,000 fans. The aforementioned article states that expansion could come as soon as 2026, just over two years since it opened its doors.

Not surprising since the Current have sold out every regular season match in two seasons at CPKC Stadium.

Along with the potential for hosting games, CPKC Stadium and Compass Minerals National Performance Center were listed as possible base camps for teams at the tournament. The Current’s training facility was also named as a candidate as a World Cup training facility.

Kansas City is leading the way in advancing women’s sport. The Kansas City Current built the world’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium and a dedicated training facility, setting a new global standard for investment in women’s professional sport.

Proposed ticket prices for the tournament start at $35 for group matches and climb up to $600 for the final match. The bid anticipates around $550 million in ticket revenue.