Brazil is to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a vote of the soccer body’s full membership chose the South American bid over a joint proposal from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
The 74th FIFA Congress yesterday voted 119-78 for Brazil in the reduced field of two candidates to host the 2027 tournament after a joint bid by the US and Mexico was pulled late last month, and South Africa withdrew its candidacy in November last year.
It will be the first time the global women’s tournament, first played in 1991, is staged in South America.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Brazil was strongly favored to win since October last year when FIFA brokered deals for the men’s World Cups of 2030 and 2034. It left South American neighbors Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay getting just one game each of the 104 in the 2030 tournament that would be mostly cohosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
A key point for FIFA was clearing the way for its close ally Saudi Arabia to get the 2034 World Cup uncontested in a fast-track process. South American Football Confederation’s agreement to take a small part of the 2030 tournament removed it from the subsequent bidding.
The US-Mexico decision to opt out and focus on bidding for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup — that decision is due next year — was another indicator of Brazil’s expected win.
The Brazilian bid team hugged and celebrated on the podium after the result was announced, and described it as a victory for women’s soccer, for their country and for South America.
“We are a South American country that achieved the victory for women’s soccer,” Brazil’s soccer federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said before reflecting on recent flooding that has devastated parts of the country. “After the things that impact all Brazilians — a catastrophe due to the climate change — our achievement today, the first Women’s World Cup in South America, will help strengthen us.”
It was the first time that all of FIFA’s member associations had the opportunity to weigh in on the host of the women’s tournament. Previously, it was decided by the FIFA Council, the governing body’s decisionmaking committee.
There were 207 of the 211 members eligible to vote in the electronic ballot which gave three options: Brazil; Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany; or abstain.
Brazil was even more favored to win the contest after ranking higher in an evaluation report by a FIFA-appointed panel.
The next FIFA World Cup votes, to endorse the 2030 and 2034 hosts, is to be on Dec. 11 in an online congress.
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