February 19 – With two years until the 2027 Women’s World Cup, FIFA has conducted inspections in Brazil to identify training sites and hotels for the tournament.
Globo reports that a team from the world federation inspected sites in Sao Paulo with an eye to selecting training grounds and venues that can serve to supplement the tournament’s main venues.
The FIFA delegation visited the Martins Pereira Stadium in Sao José dos Compas as well as the Palma Travassos stadium and the Santa Cruz/Arena Nicnet stadium in Ribeirao Preto. They assessed the structural conditions, pitch, press room and other facilities. During the 2014 World Cup, Ribeirao Preto hosted the French national team.
The FIFA representatives held inspections in Espirito Santo as well. In 2019, Vitoria was a host city during the U-17 World Cup. Five years earlier, the state welcomed the teams of Cameroon and Australia.
The Brazilian bid proposed 12 host cities for the tournament: Belem, Belo Horizonte, Cuiaba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo. Of the 12 stadiums that hosted 2014 World Cup matches, Curitiba’s Arena de Baixada missed out.
Last year, Brazil’s bid controversially prevailed over a tri-nation bid from Europe in a vote at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. Previously, the United States and Mexico withdrew from the race. It’s the first time that South America will stage the Women’s World Cup.
Later this week, Africa kicks off the qualifiers for the tournament. Spain are the defending champions after defeating England 2-1 in the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
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