In a landmark decision, Brazil was declared the host of the 2027 Women’s World Cup at the FIFA Congress on Friday, triumphing over the joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. This selection marks Brazil as the first South American nation to host the prestigious tournament.
The Brazil bid garnered the support of 119 member associations of the FIFA Congress, surpassing the 78 votes received by the European bid. “We knew we would be celebrating a victory for South American women’s soccer and for women,” said Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation. “You can be sure, with no vanity, we will accomplish the best World Cup for women.”
Brazil’s advantage in the bidding process was highlighted by a FIFA technical evaluation, which scored the Brazilian bid at four out of five, compared to the Belgium-Netherlands-Germany (BNG) bid’s score of 3.7. This evaluation assessed criteria such as commercial viability, team facilities, accommodation, broadcast sites, stadiums, and fan festival venues.
Brazil’s proposal showcased its 10 purpose-built stadiums, previously used during the 2014 men’s World Cup, and emphasized its strong commercial position and government support. In contrast, the BNG bid, while noted for its compact nature and robust infrastructure, faced criticism for the smaller capacities of its 13 stadiums.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed confidence in Brazil’s ability to deliver an exceptional tournament, declaring it would be “the best Women’s World Cup ever.”
Infantino’s Pledge and Palestinian-Israeli Tensions
In his opening remarks at the Congress, Infantino emphasized FIFA’s commitment to enhancing global access to football and called for an end to debates over the number of matches being played. He highlighted that FIFA organizes a minimal percentage of club and national team games but supports a significant portion of its members with necessary resources.
“I hope these figures will show that we should probably stop this futile debate, it’s really pointless, and focus on what we need to do which is organize the best competitions and develop football around the world,” Infantino stated.
The Congress also addressed a contentious issue raised by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), which called for the suspension of Israel’s football federation, citing multiple violations of FIFA statutes related to the Gaza conflict and the inclusion of teams from Palestinian territory in Israeli leagues.
Jibril Rajoub, president of the PFA, urged Congress to vote on suspending the Israel Football Association (IFA), asserting that FIFA cannot remain indifferent to the ongoing conflict. “FIFA cannot afford to remain indifferent to these violations or the ongoing genocide in Palestine,” he said. “I ask you to stand on the right side of history… If not now, when?”
Shino Moshe Zuares, president of the IFA, rejected the allegations, stating that no rules had been broken and accusing the PFA of a politically motivated attempt to harm Israel. “Once again, we are facing a cynical political and hostile attempt by the PFA to harm Israel,” he responded. “I am holding myself back …in the hope things can be better for the game for those who play in Israel, the Palestinian authority, and for those who play all over the world.”
Infantino assured that a legal assessment of the allegations would be conducted urgently, with the FIFA Council set to convene an extraordinary Congress in late July to address the issue.
The decision to award the 2027 Women’s World Cup to Brazil is a significant milestone, promising to boost women’s soccer in South America and provide a platform for Brazil to demonstrate its capability to host world-class sporting events. As the global football community looks forward to this event, FIFA’s efforts to navigate complex geopolitical issues underscore the organization’s broader mission to promote unity and development through the sport.
