Setback for the application from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands for the 2027 Women’s World Cup: FIFA rated the European application worse than the one from Brazil in its review.
With an overall score of 3.7 (maximum score 5.0), the application from Europe performed worse in FIFA’s review report than the only opposing application from Brazil, which received 4.0 points. The European bid was rated better or equally good in almost all categories, but was significantly downgraded in two areas: FIFA assessed the risk of hosting the event as “medium” or “high” in terms of both the stadiums and the contractual conditions. This means that the application falls behind the one from Brazil and will go into the vote on May 17th as an outsider.
Several government documents supporting the tournament “deviated significantly from FIFA’s original templates provided,” the report said. This could lead to “increased cost obligations” and a “significant dilution of FIFA’s rights”. Although the countries have promised further changes to an award, “given the scope and extent of the deviations, the overall risk to the legal framework is assessed as high,” said FIFA.
Federal Ministry of the Interior believes: “Opportunities remain good”
The Federal Ministry of the Interior, which is responsible for sport, said in response to Sportschau’s request: “Even if the overall grade is slightly lower than Brazil’s application, we see this as confirmation of our joint application with Belgium and the Netherlands.” The Federal Ministry of the Interior left unanswered which documents criticized by FIFA were inadequate and whether they came from the DFB, the three state governments or the planned host cities. A precise allocation of the criticisms will be made in coordination with the DFB and the partners in Belgium and the Netherlands, according to a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior. “The chances of a joint application from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany remain good given FIFA’s generally positive assessment.”
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser with One Love armband next to Gianni Infantino
The DFB published a statement on behalf of the three associations from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. It says that “the good overall rating was noted”. The associations say they are continuing to work to “win supporters for our project.” The application team is now looking forward to presenting the vision at the FIFA Congress.
Awarded at the FIFA Congress on May 17th
The World Cup will be awarded on May 17th at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. Both applications are eligible for voting because, according to the report, they meet the minimum requirements. The report assesses aspects such as infrastructure with stadiums and accommodation, marketing, sustainability, human rights and legal issues.
The FIFA Congress is the meeting of the 211 FIFA members. All associations that are not suspended at the time of the event are allowed to vote. The associations that are involved in the applications are excluded from this. So Germany is not allowed to vote. Europe has 52 votes, South America nine. There are also the continental associations from Africa (54), Asia (46), North/Central America (35) and Oceania (11).
In the first round of voting, an absolute majority of more than 50 percent is required among the voting members present. If this does not come about, a simple majority, minus abstentions, is sufficient in the second round of voting. The associations are not bound by the results of the report when voting. Over the past few months, South Africa first dropped out and most recently the USA and Mexico also withdrew their joint application.
The FIFA Congress votes on the organization.
South America has never hosted the Women’s World Cup
Germany last hosted the World Cup in 2011, Europe and France only hosted it in 2019 – but South America never did. At the congress of South America’s association CONMEBOL (comparable to UEFA), association head Alejandro Dominguez said in the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino: “I appeal: In 2027, the Women’s World Cup must be played in South America for the first time in history.” The development of women’s football must be promoted.
Due to the 2014 Men’s World Cup, there is still a lot of infrastructure in place; several stadiums from back then are planned for the 2027 Women’s World Cup if the contract is awarded. Of the 13 planned stadiums, ten were already in use in 2014.
Alejandro Dominguez, President of the South American umbrella organization CONMEBOL
European application also under political pressure
The European bid will be able to rely on at least a large part of the votes from UEFA. However, the “One Love” farce at the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar caused dissatisfaction in many countries, and relations with FIFA were very tense at times. Voting is often used in FIFA meetings to punish, settle scores or clarify political balances of power.
It is repeatedly reported that Saudi Arabia is critical of the European application and is exerting influence. A background: DFB managing director Andreas Rettig said on ZDF with a view to the 2034 Men’s World Cup, which was de facto awarded to Saudi Arabia, that he had “not forgotten Jamal Kashoggi”. Kashoggi was a critical Saudi journalist who was murdered by a hit squad in Turkey. According to a UN investigation report, the instructions for this came from the highest government levels in Saudi Arabia.
