Brazil has been chosen to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, prevailing over a joint bid by Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany at a FIFA congress overshadowed by the Gaza conflict.
This marks the first time South America will host the tournament, following a successful 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand which generated a record $570 million in commercial revenue.
The decision, made in Bangkok, saw Brazil win by 119 votes to 78, amid celebrations by the Brazilian bid team.
The evaluation report by FIFA inspectors highlighted Brazil’s higher score compared to its European competitors, noting the potential “tremendous impact on women’s football in the region.”
Brazil’s bid includes ten stadiums from the 2014 men’s World Cup, with the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro slated to host the opening and final matches.
However, concerns remain, particularly with the Amazonia stadium in Manaus, which has been largely unused for the past decade.
Internal chaos within the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) due to legal challenges to its leader has added to the challenges.
Brazil’s women’s team has not matched the success of their male counterparts, having not won the title or progressed past the group stage in the 2023 World Cup.
Despite initial concerns about expanding the tournament from 24 to 32 teams, the 2023 edition saw over 1.4 million spectators attend matches, witnessing several surprises and notable results.
Notably, the tournament eliminated the dominance of a few teams, with seven countries winning their first World Cup and the United States and Germany, who had won six of the previous eight championships, exiting early.
One controversial incident from the 2023 tournament involved Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), who is facing legal action for allegedly forcing a kiss on midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain’s victory over England in the Sydney final.
