In the battle to host the next Women’s World Cup, Brazil has emerged as a surprise front-runner after the United States and Mexico dropped out of the race. FIFA’s bid evaluation report highlighted Brazil as the candidate with the best credentials, receiving a score of 4.0 compared to the BNG (Belgium, Netherlands, Germany) bid’s 3.7. The European bid faced criticism for its high-risk legal framework, particularly in Belgium, where key areas of commitment to FIFA were identified as lacking.
Tax risks in the Netherlands and operational delivery risks in Germany were also highlighted in the evaluation report, leading to concerns about potential financial liabilities and safety issues for FIFA. Despite these challenges, the BNG bid promoted sustainability and diversity, with the Belgian FA president Pascal Van Damme lobbying in Asia and Africa to secure votes from these influential confederations. However, these efforts may not have been enough to sway the FIFA family, especially given Europe’s unpopularity in certain regions and Infantino’s preference for countries outside of UEFA.
In contrast, Brazil was dogged by institutional crises prior to the bid evaluation, with CBF chairman Ednaldo Rodrigues facing legal challenges and court-ordered elections that were never held. FIFA intervened behind the scenes to maintain Rodrigues, a FIFA Council member, in power, showing a level of support that might have boosted Brazil’s bid. The bid’s low-risk legal aspects and the country’s successful track record of hosting major events were cited as strong arguments in favor of Brazil as a potential host for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Infantino’s influence on the bidding process cannot be underestimated, with his backing of Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 World Cup and South America’s concession of hosting rights for the 2030 World Cup indicating a shift in focus towards other regions. The 2027 Women’s World Cup could be seen as a consolation prize for South America, with Brazil positioning itself confidently as a likely host for another major tournament in the near future. Despite challenges and competition from other bidding nations, Brazil’s strong bid and track record in hosting major sporting events may give it the edge in landing the hosting rights for the next Women’s World Cup.
