Setback for the application from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands for the 2027 Women’s World Cup: FIFA rated the European application worse than the one from Brazil in its review.
With an overall score of 3.7 (maximum score 5.0), the application from Europe performed worse in FIFA’s review report than the only opposing application from Brazil, which received 4.0 points.
The European application performed better or equally well in almost all categories, but was significantly downgraded in two areas. FIFA classified the risk of hosting the event as “medium” or “high” in terms of both the stadiums and the contractual conditions. This means that the application falls behind the one from Brazil. The DFB has repeatedly expressed itself as very confident and optimistic about its application.
Awarded at the FIFA Congress on May 17th
However, both applications are eligible for voting. The World Cup will be awarded on May 17th at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. The FIFA Congress is the meeting of the 211 FIFA members.
The FIFA Congress votes on the organization.
All associations that are not suspended at the time of the event are allowed to vote. The associations that are involved in the applications are excluded from this. So Germany cannot vote for itself. Europe has 52 votes, South America nine. There are also the continental associations from Africa (54), Asia (46), North/Central America (35) and Oceania (11).
In the first round of voting, an absolute majority of more than 50 percent is required among the voting members present. If this does not come about, a simple majority, minus abstentions, is sufficient in the second round of voting.
South America has never hosted the Women’s World Cup
Germany last hosted the World Cup in 2011, Europe and France only hosted it in 2019 – but South America never did. At the congress of South America’s association CONMEBOL (comparable to UEFA), association head Alejandro Dominguez said in the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino: “I appeal: In 2027, the Women’s World Cup must be played in South America for the first time in history.” The development of women’s football must be promoted.
Due to the 2014 Men’s World Cup, there is still a lot of infrastructure in place; several stadiums from back then are planned for the 2027 Women’s World Cup if the contract is awarded. Of the 13 planned stadiums, ten were already in use in 2014.