Representatives of Brazil’s bid to host the 2027 FIFA World Cup will be at football’s highest authority this Thursday (7 December) to deliver the Bid Book, a brochure that presents the candidate’s proposals for host country. The decision that could guarantee the holding of the Women’s World Cup for the first time in South America will be made public on May 8, 2024, at the FIFA Congress, in Thailand.
Valesca Araújo, responsible for planning the event’s infrastructure and operations, Manuela Biz, Communications consultant, and Luiza Iglesias, art director and creator of the campaign’s brand and visual identity, will be in Switzerland to complete the final stage of the application process. The physical delivery of the brochure is part of the formalization of work that began in May this year, with the confirmation of Brazil’s interest in hosting the main women’s event in the world, in 2027.
“Through the hands of three women, we are taking to FIFA a proposal that reflects the desire to establish the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a platform for the development of women’s football in all its layers, from the training of young athletes and managers to the materialization of policies to protect women’s rights, inside and outside the field”, said the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues.
He highlighted that Brazil has increasingly improved its capacity to hold major sporting events.
“We have a country ready. Since 2014, our conditions have evolved even further, with improvements and more structure in the stadiums. The passion for football only increases in Brazil and we are living at an important moment, in which relations with the world of football have been reestablished, after years of interruption. Brazil has regained the trust of FIFA, Conmebol, UEFA, all the major entities, and this encourages us to fight for this event”, continued Ednaldo, making reference to the 2014 Men’s World Cup.
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In more than 160 pages of the book that condenses Brazil’s proposals, information regarding infrastructure is provided, such as a description of stadiums capable of hosting matches, training centers and the hotel network in the ten proposed host cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Cuiabá, Fortaleza, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.
“We worked from the beginning with the idea of using only the stages built or renovated for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, confirming the legacy of that competition in the development of the sport and as part of an environmental and financial sustainability project. We also aim to involve the South American continent, which is why we distribute the games in all regions of Brazil, enabling fans from other countries to also enjoy a unique moment”, commented Valesca Araújo.
Jacqueline Barros, institutional relations executive for the candidacy, highlights a key point in the process. “We achieved all the government guarantees provided for in the requirements, with the support of the Federal Government, state and municipal bodies, football Federations, and also Conmebol, a fundamental partner to enhance the impact of the competition on the continent”.
Popular support and the need for female representation in the football ecosystem are some of the pillars in the design of an event by and for women, but which dialogues with the whole of society. “Our strategy presupposes the active participation of football pioneers, managers, the specialized press, civil society, sponsors, so that together we can reach women and girls who are looking for a reference, an inspiration in sport, beyond the pitch. Furthermore, we are aligned with Brazil’s goals as a global protagonist in the economic, social and environmental sustainability agenda”, explained Manuela Biz.
Supported by the slogan “A Natural Choice”, Brazil’s candidacy used social media to engage the Brazilian and South American public and received videos of support from internet users, which appear in the official film, also delivered to FIFA.
Brazil’s competitors to host the 2027 FIFA World Cup are: the United States and Mexico (double candidacy), and the trio of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. South Africa withdrew from the dispute in November this year. From now on, each proponent’s documentation will be evaluated and, once the proposals have been approved according to pre-established technical criteria, the candidates will be subject to voting at the FIFA Congress, in May 2024.
