Legion Soccer — Photo of the American Outlaws section at the U.S. vs Haiti Women’s friendly 2015 at Legion Field. (American Outlaws Birmingham)

Birmingham is hoping to bring the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup to The Magic City.

To date, the Alabama Sports Council, City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) and the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau are working together to submit the necessary bid paperwork to show FIFA, soccer’s world governing body and US Soccer that the Magic City would be the perfect fit for the global event.

The 2031 tournament is scheduled to be played in the U.S., Mexico and neighboring CONCACAF nations which includes Canada, Caribbean and Central American nations.

The tournament will have 48 participating nations.

Soccer is popular in The Magic City

World Cup — American Outlaws at the U.S. v Haiti Women’s Friendly at Legion Field. (Pat Byington)

The Magic City has a long storied and successful history hosting international soccer games.

In 1996, the opening of the Olympic Soccer tournament between the U.S. and Argentina drew over 83,000 fans.

In 2015, the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) drew 35,000+ fans at Legion Field on their World Cup victory tour.

The Magic City also hosts the Birmingham Bash, one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the South. This month over 440 teams and 20,000 soccer players and family members participated in the annual fall event.

“We have a great track record of successfully supporting international soccer events. I was the CEO of Birmingham Olympic soccer in 1996 and we sold more tickets for the Birmingham venue than Orlando, Washington and Miami combined. We then went on to host seven international friendlies and One World Cup qualifier for the men, and all those were extremely well supported.

And then in 2015, out of 10 cities that the Women’s World Cup Victory Tour consisted of, Birmingham finished second in attendance. So we have the track record that you need to show that we’re the right city. We’re in the middle of a population hub with 25 million plus within a four hour drive. We’ve got a great venue in Protective Stadium that can accommodate natural turf on top of the artificial. This is the first step and we’re eager to work with our partners to make this happen.”

Gene Hallman, President Eventive Sports