Ghana, South Africa learn Women’s World Cup paths as FIFA names Maracanã Venue for 2027 Final
David GOMBE
FIFA has tunveiled the match schedule for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, confirming when and where all 64 fixtures will be played across Brazil’s eight vibrant Host Cities.
The announcement was made at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, during the live draw show for the preliminary phase of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-Off Tournament.
Hosts Brazil will begin their campaign at the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, 24 June before playing their two other group-stage matches at Arena Itaquera in São Paulo on Tuesday, 29 June, and at the Estádio Nacional in Brasília on Sunday, 4 July.
All eight Host Cities will stage at least seven matches, including a minimum of one knockout fixture. Brasília, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador will host matches until the Round-of-16. Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza will join Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo as venues for the quarter-finals.
We can’t wait to witness a new chapter of women’s football history unfold when the world’s best players, coaches, fans and local communities take centre stage in Brazil next year,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“I already have goosebumps thinking about the incredible passion, colour and energy that Brazilian fans will bring to the tournament as they welcome the world to eight vibrant Host Cities.”
The match schedule is also designed to build excitement throughout the tournament, culminating in an epic Final. São Paulo, the beating heart of women’s football in South America, will host one Semi-Final and the Bronze Final, before the tournament reaches its grand finale in Rio de Janeiro. The other Semi-Final and Final will take place at the iconic Estádio do Maracanã, with FIFA Fan Festivals adding to the celebration and giving fans the opportunity to experience the excitement of the tournament in one of the world’s most vibrant cities as well as across the country.
“As we developed the match schedule, we carefully balanced sporting fairness across all 32 teams, considering travel distances, recovery time between matches and the overall competition experience,” added Dame Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer.
“At the same time, we wanted to ensure fans across Brazil could be part of the excitement and that each Host City could play its role in this celebration of women’s football. We are especially excited that the tournament will begin at the iconic Estádio do Maracanã, setting the stage for what promises to be an epic FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
The Estádio do Maracanã will become only the third stadium to host both a FIFA World Cup final and a FIFA Women’s World Cup final, joining the now-demolished Råsunda Stadium in Solna, Sweden (1958 and 1995) and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, USA (1994 and 1999).
“The little girl Aline who used to play football in the streets of São Paulo could never have dreamed of a day like this,” said former captain of the Brazilian women’s national team and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Executive Director of Legacy and Stakeholder Affairs, Aline Pellegrino.
“Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil is a source of immense pride. Next year, we will see people from across Brazil and around the world come together to celebrate women’s football in a country renowned for its love of the game. Each Host City will add its own unique flavour, making this a colourful, joyful and unforgettable celebration. The world’s best players will feel that energy from the stands, and they will give it back on the pitch through moments and performances that will inspire girls and boys around the world.”
The match schedule is now available on FIFA’s digital platforms, enabling fans to start planning their tournament experience while the eight Host Cities, the host country authorities and local stakeholders continue their preparations to welcome the world to Brazil in 2027. The next version of the match schedule will be published following the final draw, which will take place later this year.
Meanwhile,Africa’s path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil is coming into clearer focus, as South Africa (SA) and Ghana discovered their opponents for the upcoming preliminary play-off tournament.
The draw places SA in a group alongside Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, and Uzbekistan. Ghana, meanwhile, faces a similar route, lined up against Ecuador, Uzbekistan, and Papua New Guinea.
Featuring six teams, the preliminary stage will run from November 24 to December 5, with every nation playing three matches during the tournament window.
The top two teams from the group will move on to the final play-off stage, where six nations in total will battle it out for the last three tickets to Brazil 2027.
Fans interested in attending the tournament can register their interest in tickets at FIFA.com/tickets, while prospective volunteers can sign up for updates at FIFA.com/volunteer.