Network nodes for joint MEC host and UPF selection

In one example method, a first network node transmits a first control message, which indicates a set of candidate mobile edge computing (MEC) hosts, a client device, and network performance boundaries for selection of a MEC host, to a second network node. The first network node receives a second control message, which indicates a subset of the set of candidate MEC hosts and performance of a fastest path from the client device to each candidate MEC host in the subset of candidate MEC hosts, and probabilities of the client device entering a coverage area of the each candidate MEC host, from the second network node. The first network node transmits a third control message indicating a selected MEC host to the second network node. The second network node selects a user plane function (UPF) for traffic steering to the selected MEC host based on the third control message.