Stephen Dunmoye
Following the bid submitted to World Football Governing Body, FIFA, South Africans want to become the first African country to host the Women’s World Cup and they have put up a bid for the 2027 edition of the tournament.
South Africa has hosted 2010 World Cup, bids to host again female world cup in 2027.
According to a report, FIFA has receives four expressions of interest for 2027 Women’s World Cup with one of them coming from South Africa and the Brazilian Football Association (CBF).
The other two are joint expressions of interest with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) teaming up with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).
A joint-European bid was put forward by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and the German Football Association (DFB).
As the next step, FIFA is expected to send a bidding agreement to interested parties and the Member Associations will have time until May 19 to return and confirm their interest.
According to FIFA secretary general, Fatma Samoura, “We are thrilled by the expressions of interest received, not least because they come from member associations with a strong football tradition representing four confederations, thus confirming the consistent popularity of women’s football across the world.
“All member associations can rely on the most robust and comprehensive bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
The host(s) will be announced at the FIFA Congress through public voting on May 17 next year.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup has been hosted in the United States in 1999 and 2003 and its national team is the most successful in the event’s history, having won the trophy four times.
Meanwhile, Mexico has never hosted a Women’s World Cup.
In the combined European bid, only Germany has hosted the event, back in 2011, and have won the competition twice in 2003 and 2007.
The Netherlands have a European Championship title to their name, when they hosted the 2017 edition, while Belgium have not won a major trophy yet.
Brazil has never hosted the Women’s World Cup despite staging the men’s event twice in 1950 and 2014.
South Africa, who staged the men’s World Cup in 2010, is seeking to bring the women’s event to Africa for the first time.
Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to host this year FIFA Women’s World Cup from July 20 to August 20.
