World Cup Passes Over Rose Bowl; SoFi Stadium Selected for Primary Bid

U.S. Soccer’s bid to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup picked SoFi Stadium in Inglewood as the venue over Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, leaving the historic venue off FIFA’s list of 20 primary sites for the matches. The choice was announced in a Nov. 28 release.

The bid book released Tuesday includes the Rose Bowl as an “other suitable city” for potential future consideration.

The designation mirrors the stadium’s earlier exclusion from the 2026 Men’s World Cup, despite its historic role as host of the 1999 Women’s World Cup final.

The timing is particularly sensitive for Pasadena, where UCLA is seeking to abandon its Rose Bowl lease amid ongoing litigation.

Stadium renovation  — Phase 1 scheduled for 2026 and Phase 2 not expected until 2029 — add uncertainty to the venue’s global positioning.

FIFA’s evaluation process prioritizes turnkey, modern venues, and UCLA’s attendance crisis further weakens the Rose Bowl’s case.

Despite the setback, Pasadena could still host World Cup matches.

Venue final decisions not expected until 2027. Completion of Phase 2 renovations by 2029 would fall ahead of the 2031 tournament.