Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium has been selected for both the curtain-raiser and the championship match of the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the tournament schedule confirming Brazil as host of the 32-team competition’s opening and closing fixtures.
Brazil will begin the tournament on June 24, marking the first Women’s World Cup staged in South America. The Maracana, one of football’s most iconic arenas, will then welcome the finalists on July 25. The stadium also carries a painful place in Brazilian football history, having witnessed the hosts’ defeat to Uruguay in the decisive match of the 1950 men’s World Cup.
All eight host cities are guaranteed at least seven matches, including no fewer than one knockout-stage fixture, FIFA confirmed.
Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador will host games up to and including the round of 16. Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are scheduled to stage quarter-finals, while the two semi-finals will be played in Sao Paulo and Rio.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the tournament’s atmosphere would be shaped by the enthusiasm of supporters across the country. He said he was already feeling excited at the prospect of Brazilian fans filling the eight host cities with passion, colour and energy as they receive visitors from around the world.
The Maracana will join an exclusive group of venues to have staged finals at both the men’s and women’s World Cups. Only Stockholm’s Rasunda Stadium and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena have previously achieved that distinction.
Former Brazil captain Aline Pellegrino said the individual character of each host city would contribute to a vibrant and memorable event. She added that the atmosphere created by the fans would reach the world’s leading players, who would respond with performances and moments capable of inspiring children everywhere.
FIFA is expected to release the complete match schedule later this year.
