The iconic Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro has been confirmed as the venue for both the opening match and the final of next year's Women's World Cup, marking a historic moment as the tournament arrives in South America for the first time.
FIFA announced the full schedule for the 64-match tournament, which will feature 32 teams across the competition. The 78,838-capacity Maracanã will host hosts Brazil's opening Group A fixture on 24 June before welcoming the world back for the showpiece final on 25 July.
The stadium carries significant footballing pedigree, having previously staged the finals of the men's World Cup in both 1950 and 2014, as well as hosting the Olympic football final in 2016. With this latest honor, the Maracanã becomes only the third stadium in history to have hosted finals of both the men's and women's World Cup, joining the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and the now-demolished Råsunda Stadium in Sweden.
Brazil's involvement in the tournament will not be confined to Rio alone. The host nation will also play group-stage matches at the Arena Itaquera in São Paulo and the Estádio Nacional in Brasília. Notably, the Arena Itaquera has been given the heaviest workload of any venue, set to host ten matches throughout the finals.
Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have been chosen as the two cities to stage the semi-finals, with São Paulo also hosting the third-place playoff match. The tournament's four quarter-finals will be spread across Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte, the latter being a particularly symbolic choice given Brazil's infamous 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany at the 2014 men's World Cup. Should Brazil top Group A and advance, they would face their quarter-final test in Belo Horizonte, offering a chance at a measure of redemption on that ground.
Porto Alegre and Recife round out the list of host cities for the tournament, which is being staged across eight venues in total—each of which also hosted matches during the 2014 men's World Cup in Brazil.
This edition marks the second consecutive Women's World Cup to feature an expanded 32-team format, following the trend set by the 2023 tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. That most recent edition saw Spain claim their first-ever world title with a victory over England in the Sydney final.
The official draw for the 2027 tournament will take place once the remaining qualification playoffs have concluded.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed enthusiasm about bringing the tournament to Brazil, a nation renowned for its football culture. "We can't wait to witness a new chapter of women's football history unfold when the world's best players, coaches, fans and local communities take centre stage in Brazil next year," he said. "I already have goosebumps thinking about the incredible passion, colour and energy that Brazilian fans will bring to the tournament."
Former Brazil captain Aline Pellegrino also spoke about what fans can expect from the various host cities. "Each host city will add its own unique flavour, making this a colourful, joyful and unforgettable celebration," she said. "The world's best players will feel that energy from the stands and they will give it back on the pitch through moments and performances that will inspire girls and boys around the world."
With preparations now underway, football fans across the globe will eagerly await the draw to see which nations will compete for glory on Brazilian soil.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.