- India 81-1 in fight to deny New Zealand historic series win
- Georgia votes in key test for democracy, EU ambitions
- New Zealand sniff historic win as India set 359 to win Test
- End of golden era for Chinese investors in Bordeaux wine
- Freeman fairytale slam powers Dodgers to World Series win
- Bagnaia claims pole for Thailand MotoGP, title rival Martin third
- Israel hits Iran missiles, bases in retaliatory strikes
- Freeman slam lifts Dodgers over Yankees in World Series thriller
- Philippine rescuers battle floodwaters to reach stranded
- Georgia votes in crucial test for democracy, EU ambitions
- Beyonce boosts Harris at abortion rights rally in Texas
- Bidzina Ivanishvili: the tycoon ruling Georgia behind the scenes
- Myanmar's war approaches Mandalay a year after rebel offensive
- Decline of rural Japan not our fault, women say
- Suarez and Alba give Miami winning start in MLS Cup playoffs
- Turkish Cypriots caught in citizenship limbo on divided island
- Final campaigning in tight Japan election
- Cali's love motels adapt to host UN summit delegates
- World champion Sakamoto takes Skate Canada lead over Liu
- Sainz tops times as Russell crashes in Mexico GP practice
- Three moments from King Charles Pacific tour
- Commonwealth announces Ghana foreign minister as new secretary general
- Gaza ministry accuses Israel of storming hospital, reports two children killed
- King Charles III departs Samoa, wrapping Pacific tour
- G7 finalize $50 bn Ukraine loan backed by Russian assets profits
- Ex-Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex crimes
- Unfulfilled talent? Two-time champion Alonso clocks up 400th F1 race
- Guardiola praises 'incredible' mentality of Man City stars
- Chelsea boss Maresca wants more 'leadership' from captain James
- US issues historic apology for Native American boarding school atrocities
- Moody's cuts France outlook, opening door to credit downgrade
- Drone sparks fire on Kyiv residential building, one dead
- Gaza ministry says two children die in hospital in Israeli raid
- Wood brace fires Forest as Leicester boss Cooper loses reunion
- Dodgers draw on Bryant's 'Mamba mentality' for World Series
- 'Fascist' row overshadows glitzy night on US campaign trail
- Modern art museum breathes new life into downtown Warsaw
- Russell tops crash-hit Mexico GP practice
- Fils, Shelton set for friendly fire in Basel semi-finals
- Internet blackout hits Mozambique capital after election protests
- Yankees, Dodgers poised for World Series blockbuster
- 'Catfish' predator who drove US girl to suicide jailed for life in N.Ireland
- NASA astronaut hospitalized after return from ISS
- Biden apologizes for Native American boarding school atrocities
- Mexico rules out designating drug violence as 'terrorism'
- Emery wants no let-up from Aston Villa
- Boeing exploring sale of space business: report
- G20 affirms commitment to transition from fossil fuels
- Shami misses India's tour of Australia as Easwaran named as potential Rohit cover
- BHP, Vale agree to pay $30bn damages for Brazil dam disaster
US, Mexico withdraw joint bid for 2027 Women's World Cup: official
The United States and Mexico withdrew their joint bid for the 2027 Women's World Cup on Monday, just weeks before FIFA is due to vote to award the tournament at a meeting in Bangkok.
In a joint statement from the US and Mexico football federations, the two governing bodies said they would now switch focus towards mounting a successful bid for the 2031 tournament.
The shock decision comes as FIFA officials prepare to hold a vote at the global governing body's Congress in Bangkok on May 17 to decide the 2027 hosts.
The US and Mexico withdrawal leaves two rival bids vying for the tournament -- a joint bid from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and a solo bid from Brazil.
The end of the US-Mexico bid came after FIFA said earlier on Monday that the 2027 tournament hosts would for the first time be decided by an open vote when the FIFA Congress convenes in Thailand next month.
The US had been bidding to stage the women's football flagship event for the third time after hosting the tournament successfully on its own in 1999 and 2003.
Had the US-Mexico bid for 2027 been successful, it would have meant another large-scale sporting event taking place in North America in what has become a crowded calendar for the region.
The United States, Mexico and Canada are already gearing up to stage the men's 2026 World Cup, while Los Angeles is preparing to host the 2028 Olympics.
The United States is also due to host next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup, and is also staging this year's 16-team Copa America.
US Soccer said waiting until 2031 would give tournament organizers more breathing space to plan for the tournament while absorbing lessons from the region's staging of the 2026 men's World Cup.
"Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking -- and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe," US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement.
"I'm proud of our commitment to provide equitable experiences for the players, fans and all our stakeholders.
"Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women's World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women's game both here at home as well as across the globe."
Mexico Football Federation chief Ivar Sisniega echoed Parlow Cone's position.
"After careful analysis we feel that moving our bid back to 2031 will allow us to promote and build up to the most successful Women's World Cup ever," Sisniega said.
"The strength and universality of our professional women's leagues, coupled with our experience from organizing the 2026 World Cup, means that we will be able to provide the best infrastructure as well as an enthusiastic fan base that will make all the participating teams feel at home and to put together a World Cup that will contribute to the continued growth of women's football."
Last year's women's World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand.
The last time the tournament was held in North America was when Canada hosted in 2015.
The USA are the most successful nation in the women's game having won the World Cup on four occasions.
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN