Zurich, April 23 (BNA) Four contestants are competing to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, FIFA confirmed on Monday, days after the joint bid between the United States and Mexico entered the race.
Brazil, South Africa and the European project comprising Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands were previously announced as target candidates in a bid to win the vote scheduled for May next year.
Fatma Samoura, FIFA’s general secretary, said in a statement that the four draftees come from countries “with strong footballing traditions”.
Germany, South Africa and Brazil hosted three consecutive editions of the men’s World Cup from 2006 to 2014, and the 2026 men’s edition will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The prospective hosts met their first deadline set by FIFA last week and must sign a tender agreement by May 19. FIFA wants official bid plan documents by December 8.
FIFA said earlier that its 37-member governing council, chaired by president Gianni Infantino, would submit up to three bids later in the campaign to advance the ballot to a vote by its more than 200 member associations.
The host will be selected on May 17 next year at the FIFA Annual Congress where each member’s vote will be published. The location of that meeting has not yet been announced.
The competition’s member associations must attend the 2023 tournament in July and August, with Australia and New Zealand hosting it.
The 2027 tournament will likely feature 32 teams playing a total of 64 matches, although FIFA has not confirmed the tournament format. The 2019 edition in France, which was won by the United States, had 24 teams
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