U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and will instead focus on securing the 2031 edition, the national governing bodies said on Monday.

The decision comes less than three weeks before the FIFA Congress chooses the hosts on May 17 and leaves Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as the remaining candidates for the 2027 event.

“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking – and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximise its impact across the globe,” U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a joint statement.

Last November, South Africa also withdrew their bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and said they would instead focus on the 2031 tournament.

Australia and New Zealand held the 2023 finals, which Spain won. The U.S., Mexico and Canada will co-host the men’s World Cup in 2026.

-Reuters

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has invited 25 players to the camp of U17 Girls National Team, Flamingos, ahead of next month’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso.

The list includes four goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards.

Olowookere, who led the Flamingos to a first-ever World Cup bronze medal-finish in India last year, saw the girls fire from all cylinders in a 12-0 rout of their counterparts from Central African Republic over two legs in Douala and Abuja in the second round of the African qualifying series in February.

Harmony Chidi, who scored five of the 12 goals, as well as Ramota Kareem and Shakirat Moshood who netted a brace each in the 12-goal haul, are among the 25 players called.

Both teams will clash in the first leg of this third-round fixture at the Stade 4 August in Ouagadougou on Sunday, 12^th May with the return leg at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 18^th May.

This year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals will take place in the Dominican Republic.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens); Elizabeth Boniface (Kwara Ladies); Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens); Favour Edward (Naija Ratels)

Defenders: Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers); Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels); Taiwo Adegoke (Remo Stars Ladies); Oluwatoyin Olowookere (Ekiti Queens); Rokibat Azeez (Royal Queens); Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars Ladies); Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens)

Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Mary Aderemi (Bayelsa Queens); Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels); Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens); Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports); Queen Joseph (Fosla Academy)

Forwards: Edidiong Etim (Bayelsa Queens); Yetunde Ayantosho (Heartland Queens); Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers); Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot); Ramota Kareem (Honey Badgers); Aisha Animashaun (Naija Ratels); Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels)