RAJ Sports Seeks 2031 Women's World Cup Matches
The Portland owner eyes Providence Park as a venue for the upcoming international tournament.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Soccer
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RAJ Sports has submitted a formal expression of interest to host 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup matches in Portland. The city is competing to host games as part of a joint bid led by the United States.
Why it matters
RAJ Sports aims to cement the city as a global epicenter for women's athletics by showcasing local investments on an international stage. The organization believes the city's history with women's sports justifies its inclusion in the tournament.
The 2031 tournament is set to expand to feature 48 teams, a significant increase from previous iterations. The bid for the event is currently being led by the U.S. in partnership with Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.
The players
RAJ Sports
This organization owns the Portland Thorns and the Portland Fire professional sports teams.
Peregrine Sports
This company acts as the operator for the Providence Park venue in Portland.
FIFA
The international governing body for association football is responsible for setting standards for tournament host cities.
The details
To meet FIFA regulations, the proposed venue, Providence Park, must transition from its current artificial surface to a natural grass field. RAJ Sports, which operates the stadium through Peregrine Sports and owns the Portland Thorns and Portland Fire, is coordinating the effort to secure group-stage matches.
Timeline
The FIFA Women's World Cup tournament is scheduled to take place in 2031.
Season Trajectory
Securing a spot as a World Cup venue would elevate Portland’s standing in the hierarchy of global soccer cities. This move follows a pattern of local investment designed to position the region as a primary destination for future international tournament play.
Providence Park will require a full field conversion to natural grass to meet strict tournament standards. If successful, local fans would see group-stage matches hosted directly within the city limits.
The takeaway
Hosting international matches requires significant infrastructure upgrades, particularly regarding playing surface quality. Local stakeholders are betting that these facility improvements will yield long-term benefits for the city's sporting landscape.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest updates in the sport on the Portland Soccer page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportsbusinessjournal.
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