Most of the soccer world pays attention to men’s soccer, but world cupThe countdown to the 2027 Brazil Women’s World Cup has begun.
The women’s tournament is scheduled to begin on June 24, 2027, and will be hosted by a South American country for the first time. Brazil hosted the Men’s World Cup in 1950 and 2014.
“I think the host nation is sleeping and playing soccer. So just the energy that you see from the public and obviously the teams that land in Brazil, I think Brazil is a very unique and special country,” FIFA chief soccer officer Jill Ellis said at an event in Miami on Wednesday. “I think you can feel that same kind of energy right now when you bring the world together. There are some great achievements in women’s soccer as well. I mean, the quality level of the players is so good that I honestly think it’s going to be an epic showcase for soccer and fandom.”
In addition to Miami, countdown events were also held in Rio de Janeiro. Advertisements for the upcoming women’s tournament also flashed on video signage during Wednesday’s World Cup match between Switzerland and co-host Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The eight cities that will host the women’s games next year – Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador – all also hosted the men’s games in 2014.
Qualifying for the tournament has already begun. Brazil, which has an automatic berth, has never won the women’s tournament and it remains to be seen whether six-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta will be included in the national team. Marta, 40, has never won a major international tournament.
Thirteen other teams qualified for the tournament, including Australia, the Philippines, Japan, North Korea, China, South Korea, Argentina, Colombia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain and Denmark.
“There is only one year left until this moment that will be etched in our country’s history. For the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and all Brazilians, hosting the Women’s World Cup is a matter of great pride,” the federation’s president, Samir Zaud, said in a statement. “This will be an opportunity to show the world our passion for football and, above all, the strength of Brazilian women’s football. We are confident that this will be a transformative World Cup that can inspire girls from all regions of Brazil and leave a lasting legacy.”
The first Women’s World Cup was held in China in 1991. The United States won the most titles with four. Spain won their last championship of 2023 in a tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Women’s soccer has experienced rapid growth over the past decade; new league, Increase in viewership and income. The Women’s World Cup in Brazil will be the last with 32 teams. In 2031, 48 teams are expected to participate, similar to the men’s tournament.
The 2031 World Cup is expected to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. A formal decision is expected to be announced in November.
“I think there was some buzz when we got to No. 32. Are we ready? Will there be a blowout? We saw an incredibly competitive landscape. We saw debutants get through the knockout rounds. I think the global game is accelerating very quickly and countries are closing the gap much faster,” Ellis said. “Our job is to make sure that the teams go into the games as prepared and prepared as possible so that we can have the most competitive World Cup possible. So I think the growth of this game is accelerating rapidly. I think by 2031 we will definitely have a very competitive World Cup.”
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
