Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup

BANGKOK – Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup after a vote among FIFA’s full members chose the South American bid over a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

The FIFA Congress voted on Friday by 119 votes to 78 in favor of Brazil, in the reduced field of two candidates to host the 2027 tournament, after a joint bid by the United States and Mexico was withdrawn at the end of last month , and South Africa withdrew its candidacy in November.

It will be the first time that the women’s global tournament, first held in 1991, will be held in South America.

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Brazil had been heavily favored to win since October, when FIFA brokered deals for the 2030 and 2034 Men’s World Cups. That left South American neighbors Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay with just one game each of the tournament’s 104 games. 2030, which will be mostly co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

A key point for FIFA was to pave the way for its close ally, Saudi Arabia, to secure the 2034 World Cup uncontested in an accelerated process. South American football body CONMEBOL’s agreement to take a small part of the 2030 tournament removed it from subsequent bidding.

The decision by the USA and Mexico to opt out and focus on bidding for the 2031 World Cup – that decision is expected to be made next year – was another indicator of Brazil’s expected victory.

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O Brazilian candidacy team hugged and celebrated to the podium after the result was announced and described it as a victory for women’s football, for her country and for South America.

“We are a South American country that achieved victory for women’s football,” said the president of the Brazilian Football Federation, Ednaldo Rodrigues, before reflecting on the recent floods that devastated parts of the country. “After the things that impact all Brazilians – a catastrophe due to climate change – our achievement today, the first Women’s World Cup in South America, will help to strengthen us.”

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It was the first time that all FIFA member federations had the opportunity to have their say on the host of the women’s tournament. Previously, it was decided by the FIFA Council, the governing body’s decision-making committee.

Of the 211 members, 207 were able to vote on the electronic ballot that gave three options: Brazil, BNG or abstention.

Brazil was further favored to win the contest, especially after being ranked higher in an assessment report by a FIFA-appointed panel, FIFA said on Friday last week.

The next World Cup votes, to endorse the 2030 and 2034 hosts, will be on December 11th, in an online congress held remotely.