While the focus is on the men's World Cup, the clock starts on the 2027 Women's World Cup
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While most of world football is focused on the men's World Cup, the countdown to the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil has begun.
The women's tournament will begin on June 24, 2027, which 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 that the country in charge, sleeps and breathes football. So, I just think of the power that you will see in the community, the general public, and obviously the groups that affect Brazil, I mean, a unique, special country,” said FIFA's football chief Jill Ellis in an event on Wednesday in Miami. “I think the same energy that you will feel right now when you bring the world together, and you have an amazing product in women's football, I mean, the quality level of the players is so amazing that I think, honestly, it will be a great show for football and fandom.”
In addition to Miami, the countdown event was held in Rio de Janeiro. Even in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Wednesday's World Cup match between Switzerland and host Canada, video signs and advertisements for the upcoming women's tournament appeared.
All eight cities that will host the women's games next year also hosted men's games in 2014: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador.
Qualifying for this tournament has started. Brazil, who have an automatic place as hosts, have never won the women's tournament and it remains to be seen whether Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, will be in the national team. Marta, 40, has never won a major international tournament.
13 other teams also qualified, including Australia, Philippines, Japan, North Korea, China, South Korea, Argentina, Colombia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Spain and Denmark.
“There is only one year left until a moment that will be marked in the history of our country. For the CBF (Brazilian football federation) and all Brazilians, it is a source of great pride to host the Women's World Cup,” said the federation's president Samir Xaud in a statement. “It will be an opportunity to show the world our passion for football and, above all, the power of Brazilian women's football. We are confident that this will be a transformative World Cup, able to inspire girls in all regions of Brazil and leave a lasting legacy.”
The first Women's World Cup was hosted by China in 1991. The United States has won the most titles with four. Spain won the last title in 2023 in this tournament which was hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Canadian soccer legend and 2026 FIFA World Cup ambassador Christine Sinclair tells CBC's Eli Glasner that there has been great progress in the development of women's sports in Canada, but there is much work to be done.
Women's soccer has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with new leagues, increased viewership and revenue. The Women's World Cup in Brazil will be the last with 32 teams. In 2031 the event will include 48 teams, like the men's tournament.
The 2031 World Cup is expected to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. An official decision will likely be announced in November.
“I think when we went to 32 there was a buzz, are we ready, is there going to be a blowout? We saw an incredibly competitive environment. We saw the first players making the elimination rounds. I think the global game is growing so fast that countries are closing the gap very quickly,” Ellis said. “Our job is to make sure that the teams go in there as prepared and ready as possible, so that we can have a very competitive World Cup. So I think the growth of the game is going very fast, and I think that in 2031 we will definitely have a very competitive World Cup.”
