Brazil has been confirmed as host of the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
On Friday, 211 member nations voted on the bid during the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok to decide between Brazil and a joint bid from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands as hosts for the next edition of the tournament.
A joint bid between the United States and Mexico was withdrawn three weeks ago with the two countries deciding to focus on the 2031 tournament and calling for a “historic first” equal investment with the men’s tournament being hosted across the two countries in 2026.
South Africa also withdrew its bid, in November 2023, citing a determination to prepare a more comprehensive bid for the 2031 World Cup.
This was the first time the congress had voted on the hosts for a women’s tournament. Previously, hosts were decided based on voting from the FIFA Council.
Brazil was confirmed as the front-runner during FIFA’s evaluation report of the two bids. Brazil has never hosted a Women’s World Cup, but it hosted the men’s tournament in 1950 and 2014.
Brazil was in the running to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup but dropped out because of lingering difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan also withdrew its bid, leaving only Colombia and the joint submission from Australia and New Zealand, which ultimately won with 63% of the council vote.
Marta, Brazil’s leading career scorer, celebrated her country’s selection and called for the opening match of the tournament to be played in Rio Grande do Sul, which has been devastated by recent flooding.
“I was very happy with the news, and I’m sure that the 2027 Women’s World Cup will be a success and the Brazilian people, as always, will be with open arms to welcome the world soccer community,” Marta said in a video on social media.
The 38-year-old, a six-times Women’s World Player of the Year, is retiring from international football this year.
“If it were possible, I would like the Brazilian national team’s first match to be in Rio Grande Sul. The state of Rio Grande do Sul deserve it,” Marta added
It was recently announced that FIFA would also introduce the Club World Cup in January/February 2026, with 16 clubs taking part from various nations.
The dates for the World Cup are yet to be completely confirmed. However, FIFA has allotted space between May 25 and July in 2027 for the tournament to take place.
In his closing remarks at Friday’s FIFA Congress, president Gianni Infantino suggested that the Women’s World Cup could be expanded to include 48 teams for the 2031 edition, which would bring it in line with the men’s tournament.
“Let me again congratulate Brazil for being the host of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” Infantino said. “And in the euphoria of the discussion, somebody told me, ‘Well, we should think for the future — not for ’27, but for the future — to increase as well the number of teams for the Women’s World Cup from 32 to 48, like we did for the men. More participants, more unity, more people happy. Well, let’s see, let’s see.”
Information from ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf and Reuters contributed to this report.
