The Women’s World Cup is set to make its debut in South America, with Brazil being selected to host the 2027 edition during a FIFA congress that was marked by discussions on the conflict in Gaza.
Following the success of Australia and New Zealand in the previous year, FIFA members opted for Brazil over a European proposal in an effort to expand the reach of women’s football to new continents. Delegates convened in Bangkok voted 119 to 78 in favor of hosting the 10th Women’s World Cup in the land known for its samba football, defeating a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
This decision was met with jubilation from the Brazilian bid team. Ednaldo Rodrigues, President of the Brazilian Football Confederation, hailed this as a “triumph for Latin American football and for women’s football in the region.”Brazil, the home of women’s football icon Marta, outperformed its European rival in FIFA’s assessment report. FIFA inspectors acknowledged the “significant influence on women’s football in the area” that hosting the Women’s World Cup in South America would bring.
Brazil’s bid features 10 stadiums that were utilized during the men’s World Cup in 2014, with Rio de Janeiro’s renowned Maracana stadium slated to host the opening match and final. However, there is work to be done, especially on the Amazonia stadium in Manaus, which has remained largely inactive for almost a decade. In contrast to the men’s team, who have secured five World Cup titles, Brazil’s women’s team has never claimed the championship and was eliminated in the group stage in 2023.
Last year’s event set records, generating $570 million in commercial revenue. The tournament saw a shift away from the one-sided results that had characterized previous editions, reflecting an improvement in the standard of women’s football.
Seven teams achieved their first World Cup victories, while powerhouses like the United States and Germany, who had collectively won six of the prior eight tournaments, were eliminated early on.
The sole negative incident occurred after last year’s final in Sydney, where Spain defeated England 1-0. The head of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, caused controversy by forcibly kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony and is now facing charges of sexual assault.
From Songu Michael.
