BANGKOK — Brazil was declared host of the 2027 Women's World Cup after winning a vote at the annual FIFA Congress on Friday, beating the joint bid of Belgium, Netherlands and Germany to become the first South American country picked to stage the tournament.
Brazil won with 119 votes versus 78 for the joint European entry, boosted by a technical evaluation from world governing body FIFA that gave a high score for its commercial plan and stadiums purpose-built for the 2014 Men's World Cup.
The moment Brazil were appointed @FIFAWWC 2027 hosts!
Congratulations, @CBF_Futebol pic.twitter.com/3niPfbNLWq— FIFA (@FIFAcom) May 17, 2024
The 2027 #FIFAWWC will be hosted by Brazil! pic.twitter.com/iPAISNUZmc
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) May 17, 2024
"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."
TRANSFORMATIVE BID
The vote on the Women's World Cup had been whittled down to two candidates after the United States and Mexico withdrew to pursue the 2031 tournament instead.
Brazil had scored 4.0 out of 5 compared to 3.7 for Belgium-Netherlands-Germany in the FIFA evaluation, which had highlighted the European bid's compactness, solid commercial viability and short distances between venues, but noted smaller capacities of its 13 stadiums.
Brazil soccer chief Rodrigues said the win was the result of conviction, not lobbying.
"We were not campaigning, asking for votes. We were working to give FIFA what it needed," he said.
The bid's operational manager Valesca Araujo said the aim was to boost women's soccer in South America, which was underdeveloped and had huge potential.
"The concept we presented went beyond a sports tournament. We worked for a transformation," she said.
"Now we have to celebrate. It's a great achievement for South America."
Thinking about Marta’s 2019 speech this morning, the passion is just everything
Brazil hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup is something very very special
pic.twitter.com/PKiNSBSnNv— Maggie (@maggiemyan) May 17, 2024
(Reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Ken Ferris and Shri Navaratnam)
