Brazil's Chamber of Deputies removes mandatory school holiday alignment for 2027 Women's World Cup

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved a bill on Monday, September 30, that removes the requirement for schools to schedule their first semester vacations during the 2027 Women's World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Brazil from June 24 to July 25. The approved text allows educational institutions to decide whether to adjust their calendars to coincide with the event, rather than mandating it. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

The original law, sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in early June, required both public and private school systems to align their holidays with the entire duration of the competition. This mandate faced opposition from school administrators and the National Federation of Private Schools (Fenep), who argued that the requirement interfered with institutional autonomy and pedagogical planning. Critics noted that the event will only be hosted in eight cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, Recife, and Salvador.

Lawmakers and education managers expressed concern that the mandatory alignment would conflict with the National Education Guidelines and Bases Law (LDB), which requires a minimum of 200 school days per year. To meet this legal quota while extending mid year holidays, schools might have been forced to start the school year earlier, reduce other breaks, or hold classes on Saturdays. The rapporteur of the bill, Alex Manente, stated that while encouraging youth engagement with women's football is meritorious, it should not be done by imposing a uniform calendar on all institutions regardless of local realities.