FIFA has unveiled the complete schedule for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, confirming the dates and venues for all 64 matches across eight host cities.
The schedule was announced at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on Thursday during the live draw for the preliminary phase of the Women’s World Cup 2027 Playoff Tournament.
The tournament will begin on June 24, 2027, with hosts Brazil opening the competition at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazil will then play their remaining group stage matches at Arena Itaquera in São Paulo on June 29 and the Estadio Nacional in Brasília on July 4.
Each of the eight host cities will stage at least seven matches, with every city guaranteed to host at least one knockout fixture.
Maracanã to host opening match and final
Since the stadium’s opening on June 16, 1950, the Maracanã Stadium has been one of the hosts of the Brazilian National Football team, as well as CR Flamengo and Fluminense FC. It also hosted the 1950 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
The schedule has been designed to build towards the tournament’s climax in Rio de Janeiro. Brasília, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador will host matches through the Round of 16, while Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza will join Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo as quarterfinal venues.
São Paulo will host one semi-final and the bronze medal match, while the other semi-final and the tournament final will be played at the Maracanã.
The famous Rio venue is set to make history as only the third stadium to host both a men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup final.
The Maracana previously hosted the men’s World Cup final in 1950 and again in 2014, while the women’s final will return to the stadium in 2027.
It will join the former Råsunda Stadium in Solna, Sweden, which hosted the 1958 men’s and 1995 women’s finals, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, United States, which staged the 1994 men’s and 1999 women’s finals.
READMORE: Nigeria break unwanted record as CAF names WAFCON Best XI
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament would provide another opportunity to showcase the continued growth of women’s football.
“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,” Infantino said.
FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, Dame Sarai Bareman, said the schedule was created with sporting fairness and the experience of supporters in mind.
FIFA’s Chief Women’s Football Officer, Dame Sarai Bareman. PhotoCredit: Getty Images
She said FIFA considered factors including travel distances, recovery time between matches and the overall competition experience when putting the schedule together.
The tournament will also feature FIFA Fan Festivals across the host cities, giving supporters opportunities to experience the competition away from the stadiums.
Aline Pellegrino, former Brazil women’s national team captain and executive director of Legacy and Stakeholder Affairs for the tournament, said hosting the competition was a major source of pride for the country.
“Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil is a source of immense pride,” Pellegrino said.
She added that the different host cities would bring their own character to the tournament and help create an atmosphere capable of inspiring the next generation of players.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
The release of the schedule now allows supporters to begin planning their trips to Brazil, while host cities, government authorities and other stakeholders continue preparations.
FIFA said an updated schedule will be released after the final draw, which is scheduled to take place later this year.
