Maracanã to Host Opening and Final Matches of 2027 Women's World Cup

The FIFA announced on Thursday that the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro will host both the opening match on June 24 and the final on July 25 of the 2027 Women's World Cup. This marks the first time the tournament will be held in South America. The competition will feature 32 teams playing 64 matches across eight host cities: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, and Salvador. The Neo Química Arena in São Paulo will host the highest number of matches with ten games total. The Maracanã will become only the third stadium in history to host finals for both the men's and women's World Cups, joining the Rose Bowl in the United States and the demolished Rasunda Stadium in Sweden. The Brazilian national team, led by coach Arthur Elias, will open the tournament at the Maracanã on June 24. Brazil will then play its second group stage match on June 29 at the Neo Química Arena in São Paulo and its third on July 4 at the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasília. The Brazilian government estimates it will need at least 1.5 billion reais to host the event, focusing on security, telecommunications, and event promotion. During the tournament, club football in Brazil will be suspended. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed excitement about the energy Brazilian fans would bring to the event. One center right source noted that these comments came amid criticisms and calls for Infantino's resignation.