Brazil Officially Bidding for 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup

FIFA was given assurances by the government of Brazil over the weekend that it is officially bidding to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which would be the first time Latin America has hosted any of the nine editions of the tournament.

Brazil’s sports minister, André Fufuca, and the president of the country’s soccer body, Ednaldo Rodrigues, delivered the document to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, reported The Associated Press. The three had photos together at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where they watched local Fluminense beat Boca Juniors 2-1 to win its maiden Copa Libertadores title.

Brazil’s government said on its social media channels Saturday night that the document is signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and it gives FIFA the seven assurances that are requested in such bids. The South American nation hosted the men’s tournament in 1950 and 2014.

“The Brazilian bid to host the Women’s World Cup is part of the current government policy of stimulus to bigger participation of women in soccer,” Brazil’s sports ministry said in a statement.

The U.S. Soccer Federation and the Mexican Football Federation have also bid to co-host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and a potential return of the event to North America for the first time since 2003. The United States hosted the tournament in 1999, when the host team won a historic tournament that broke attendance and viewing records, and again in 2003, when U.S. Soccer had 12 weeks to organize the event after it was moved from China.

Along with Brazil and the U.S.-Mexico joint bid, other interested bidders include South Africa and a joint expression of interest by Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be the second tournament with 32 nations in play after the first expanded tournament was held earlier this year and co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Full bids must be introduced by December 8, followed by on-site inspection visits in February 2024. The 2027 host is expected to be named by the FIFA Congress on May 17, 2024, after what FIFA is calling “the most robust and comprehensive bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”