Tatiana Cesso
In the race to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, Brazil has surged ahead of a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany (BNG). FIFA’s technical inspection team gave Brazil a higher rating, including stadiums, accommodation, fan zones and transport infrastructure.
The joint bid from BNG, proposing to host matches across 13 stadiums in the three European countries with the final at Borussia Dortmund’s ground, received an overall score of 3.7. Meanwhile, Brazil, with its plan to utilize 10 stadiums including the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro for the final, secured a higher score of 4.0.
Also, FIFA’s evaluation highlighted Brazil’s strong support from the Brazilian Football Association and the government, which is crucial for necessary infrastructure investments.
The bid evaluation report noted, “If the bid were successful, South America would be hosting the competition for the first time, which could have a tremendous impact on women’s football in the region.”
Although BNG scored higher on certain aspects like team and referee facilities, Brazil was favored for accommodation and fan festival sites. Both bids met FIFA’s minimum requirements for World Cup host nations.
The decision on the host nation will be made by FIFA’s 211 member nations at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok on May 17. Brazil hopes to become the first South American country to host the women’s edition of the tournament.
This development comes after the withdrawal of the joint United States-Mexico bid last month, as they shift their focus to bidding for the 2031 tournament. Spain is the current Women’s World Cup champion, having triumphed over England in the final of the 2023 tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
