Brazil has been selected to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, marking the first time the tournament will take place in South America. The decision was made at a FIFA congress on Friday.
Following the success of the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, FIFA members voted 119 to 78 in favor of Brazil, defeating a joint European bid from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. This decision aligns with FIFA’s goal to expand women’s football to new continents.
The announcement was met with celebrations from the Brazilian bid team. Ednaldo Rodrigues, President of the Brazilian Football Confederation, called it a “victory for Latin American football and for women’s football in Latin America.” He noted that hosting the Women’s World Cup would have a “tremendous impact on women’s football in the region.”
Brazil’s bid, which includes 10 stadiums used during the 2014 Men’s World Cup, received high marks in FIFA’s evaluation report. The famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro is slated for the opening match and final, although some venues, like the Amazonia Stadium in Manaus, will require upgrades due to limited use in recent years.
Despite their male counterparts’ five World Cup victories, Brazil’s women’s team has yet to claim the trophy, having exited in the group stage in 2023. Nonetheless, the 2023 tournament set new records, including earning $570 million in commercial revenue, and saw a notable increase in competitive balance.
Seven teams secured their first World Cup wins, and the United States and Germany, who had won six of the previous eight tournaments, were both eliminated early. The only sour note came after the final in Sydney, where Spain defeated England 1-0. Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales sparked outrage when he forcibly kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony, leading to his prosecution for sexual assault.
