The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have presented a joint bid to FIFA to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
FIFA’s deadline for bids was Friday 8 November 2024 and the Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) announced the launch of the bid on Friday morning.
In a statement, KNVB said: “Extensive and detailed consultations between the three federations along with key stakeholders including central governments dates back to 2021. This has led to alignment around the belief that our three countries are well placed to stage a FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ of unparalleled quality and impact.”
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Other bids for 2027 Women's World Cup
Last month, Brazil submitted a bid to host the tournament, with the United States and Mexico having offered up their bid on 19 April 2023.
Previously, South Africa also expressed an interest in hosting the tournament, but on 24 November 2023 they withdrew their bid due to worries about violence that had broken out during the 2022-23 play-offs of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Second Division.
Lydia Monyepao, CEO of the SAFA, said: “We felt that it was better to present a well-prepared bid for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup and ensure we put our best foot forward, rather than producing a rushed presentation.”
2027 Women's World Cup host bidding process
The next step in the bidding process is in February 2024, when FIFA will undergo on-site inspection visits to all the bidding countries. In May 2024, FIFA will publish an Evaluation Report on the findings from each of their inspection visits. The FIFA Council will designate bids after this. Finally, on 17 May 2024, FIFA Congress will announce the hosts of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General, said: “In line with FIFA’s commitment to women’s football, this bidding process sets new standards and puts us on track to host an outstanding event in 2027 on and off the pitch.”
Past tournaments
The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany have all hosted major tournaments in the past. Germany hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, as well as the UEFA European Women’s Championships in 2001, while the Netherlands hosted the Women’s Euros in 2017. Belgium have twice hosted the Men’s European Championship, first in 1972 and then jointly with the Netherlands in 2000.
The suggested host cities in Germany are Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Cologne, while the Netherlands’ host cities would be Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Enschede, Heerenveen and Rotterdam. The potential host cities in Belgium are Brussels, Bruges, Liège, Genk, Anderlecht and Gent.
Brazil hosted the 1950 and 2014 Men’s World Cups but they have never hosted a Women’s World Cup. If their bid is successful, they will become the first South American nation to host a Women’s World Cup.
Mexico and the United States have hosted the Men’s World Cup twice, in 1970 and 1986 and will host the next edition of the tournament in 2026. The United States has hosted the Women’s World Cup twice in 1999 and 2003, however they have never joint-hosted the tournament with Mexico.