By Scott French, Senior Editor

U.S. Soccer officials met Tuesday with FIFA brass in Zurich to discuss the possibility of staging the fourth Women's World Cup in the United States, but no decision was reached and an announcement on who would replace China as host was not expected this week.

''Dan [Flynn, who headed the U.S. delegation] said he thought it went well,'' U.S. Soccer President Robert Contiguglia reported Tuesday night. ''We were encouraged. There are still a number of things that have to be [discussed].

''My hope is we get a definitive answer one way or another not by this weekend, but by next weekend, when we have a board [of directors] meeting [May 17 in Birmingham, Ala.]. If it's a go, I'd like to present whatever it is to the board of directors.''

Australia also has offered the stage the tournament, and Brazil, Italy and Sweden are considering bids, but none have yet met with the sport's world governing body. FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said the decision, to be made by FIFA's Executive Committee or its Emergency Committee, might not be finalized until the end of May.

That would leave less than four months before the original start date. FIFA has said it would be ideal to play the tournament during the planned Sept. 23-Oct. 11 window, and U.S. officials have declared that it should be possible.

''Clearly, we cannot lay on a lavish fiesta, but there is a commitment from the United States to make it a world-class event …,'' Herren said. ''From what I have seen, it is a proposal that reflects U.S. Soccer's experience with world events — that kind of professionalism.''

Flynn, U.S. Soccer's secretary general, along with Deputy Executive Director Jay Berhalter and MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who was representing Soccer United Marketing — television rights-holders for the tournament — held discussions Tuesday with FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne and other senior officials.

''We made a presentation, and they made a presentation as well about what they expect,'' U.S. Soccer Director of Communications Jim Moorhouse said. ''Now we're in a situation where the conversation will continue to be ongoing. No timetable has been set yet for a decision. And timetable that is set will be set by FIFA, which is ultimately making the final decision.''

FIFA on Saturday pulled this fall's tournament out of China because of the deadly SARS virus, which has killed more than 200 and left ill more than 4,200 in the world's most populous country.