FIFA’s bid evaluation report on the 2027 Women’s World Cup has rated Brazil’s bid higher than the joint-European bid from Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany (BNG). The report, compiled after extensive inspection visits, is not binding but will hold persuasive value for the FIFA Congress members who will vote for the host nation in May. The Brazilian bid received an impressive rating of 4.0 out of 5, surpassing the 3.7 rating of the BNG bid. FIFA recognized Brazil’s potential for strong commercial success and impact on women’s football in the region.
The report highlighted that the BNG bid presented a sound proposal but raised concerns regarding the relatively smaller capacities of the proposed stadiums. This could affect the tournament’s ability to break attendance records set by the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, the BNG bid received a red flag for its legal contractual framework, which was deemed complex and could expose FIFA to significant risks if the bid were successful.
Brazil, as a South American nation, has never hosted the women’s World Cup before but has successfully hosted major football events such as the men’s World Cup in 1950 and 2014, as well as the men’s and women’s Olympic Football Tournaments during the 2016 Games. Many stadiums used in the 2014 World Cup are part of Brazil’s bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. In contrast, Europe last hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2019, with Germany hosting the tournament in 2011. The joint BNG bid faces challenges related to shared hosting complexities and legal framework issues.
After the United States and Mexico withdrew their bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, the competition became a two-horse race between Brazil and the BNG bid. The United States had previously hosted the tournament twice but decided to focus on bidding for the 2031 edition. Other countries like China, Morocco, and South Africa have also withdrawn from bidding, leaving England and Spain as potential hosts for the 2031 tournament. The North American nations hope to leverage equality as a selling point, calling for equal investment in the women’s tournament.
The decision to shift focus to the 2031 Women’s World Cup aims to maximize the commercial potential of the event and improve the level of women’s football globally. If the BNG bid wins the 2027 hosting rights, another European nation will be unable to host the subsequent tournament until 2035, ruling out England and Spain. The evolving landscape of Women’s World Cup bidding reflects the growing interest and investment in women’s football, with nations vying for the chance to host major international tournaments and promote gender equality in sports.