05/17/24 02:20:00
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05/17 02:18 CDT Brazil picked by FIFA to get soccer's 2027 Women's World Cup, a
first for South America
Brazil picked by FIFA to get soccer's 2027 Women's World Cup, a first for South
America
BANGKOK (AP) --- Brazil will host the 2027 Women's World Cup after a vote of
FIFA's full membership chose the South American bid over a joint proposal from
Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.
The FIFA Congress on Friday voted 119-78 for Brazil in the reduced field of two
candidates to host the 2027 tournament after a joint bid by the United States
and Mexico was pulled late last month, and South Africa withdrew its candidacy
in November.
It will be the first time the global women's tournament, first played in 1991,
is staged in South America .
Brazil was strongly favored to win since October when FIFA brokered deals for
the men's World Cups of 2030 and 2034. It left South American neighbors
Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay getting just one game each of the 104 in the
2030 tournament that will be mostly co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
A key point for FIFA was clearing the way for its close ally Saudi Arabia to
get the 2034 World Cup uncontested in a fast-track process. South American
soccer body CONMEBOL's agreement to take a small part of the 2030 tournament
removed it from the subsequent bidding.
The US-Mexico decision to opt out and focus on bidding for the 2031 World Cup
--- that decision is due next year --- was another indicator of Brazil's
expected win.
The Brazilian bid team hugged and celebrated on the podium after the result was
announced, and described it as a victory for women's soccer, for their country
and for South America.
"We are a South American country that achieved the victory for women's soccer,"
Brazil's soccer federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said before reflecting
on recent flooding that has devastated parts of the country. "After the things
that impact all Brazilians --- a catastrophe due to the climate change --- our
achievement today, the first Women's World Cup in South America, will help
strengthen us."
It was the first time that all of FIFA's member associations had the
opportunity to weigh in on the host of the women's tournament. Previously, it
was decided by the FIFA Council, the governing body's decision-making committee.
There were 207 of the 211 members eligible to vote in the electronic ballot
which gave three options: Brazil, BNG or abstain.
Brazil was even more favored to win the contest, particularly after ranking
higher in an evaluation report by a FIFA-appointed pane, FIFA said FRiday.l
last week.
The next World Cup votes, to endorse the 2030 and 2034 hosts, will be on Dec.
11 in an online congress held remotely.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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