WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Brazil’s bid to host the Women’s World Cup tops European rival
Brazil’s bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup scored higher than its rival, a joint bid from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, in a FIFA’s evaluation report released on Tuesday.
The world soccer governing body bid report came ahead of the vote at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok on May 17, which will decide where the next Women’s World Cup will be held.
Last week, Mexico and the United States withdrew from the 2027 race to focus their efforts on hosting the 2031 tournament.
Based on the results of the technical evaluation, the Brazil bid received the highest overall average score of 4.0 out of 5, followed by the BNG bid with 3.7.
“The Bid Evaluation Task Force has determined that both bids qualify for consideration by the FIFA Council and the FIFA Congress, as both bids have exceeded the minimum requirements for hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in the technical evaluation,” FIFA said in a press release.
“Both bids can therefore be considered by the FIFA Council for submission to the FIFA Congress ahead of the final vote to select the host(s) of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027,” it added.
According to the report, Brazil’s bid offers good stadiums, having already hosted the 2021 World Cup. The country’s football association (CBF) and the Brazilian government have also shown their support for the bid and their commitment to hosting the event.
If successful, the bid would mark the first time South America has hosted the tournament.
-Reuters
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Dominican Republic 2024: Flamingos thrash Burkinabe girls 6-0 to cruise into final round
Nigeria reached the final round of the African qualification series for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals after a 6-0 defeat of Burkina Faso at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday evening.
Goal-poacher Harmony Chidi, who netted six of Nigeria’s dozen goals in the 12-0 annihilation of Central African Republic in the first round and also got the team’s goal in the 1-1 draw away in Bamako last week Saturday, came up big again with a hat-trick in front of delighted spectators in Nigeria’s administrative capital.
She put the Nigeria U17 girls in front after 11 minutes, capitalizing on a defensive blunder by the duo of Faridatou Ouedraogo and Obaidatou Nkiema to dribble past goalkeeper Agueratou Baguian. Four minutes later, Shakirat Moshood’s angled shot was foiled by the upright, and in the 27th minute, Peace Effiong’s dashing run ended with a tame shot.
Effiong made amends in the 34th minute, riding a couple of rough tackles to flash past the overworked Baguian as spectators egged the Flamingos on. She should have made it 3-0 with four minutes left in the first period, but got too much purchase on the ball from four yards.
In the second half, visiting goalkeeper Baguian drew applause with an excellent double save from Harmony Chidi in the 55th minute, but the World Cup bronze medallists reserved their greater potency for the last quarter-hour. In the 74th minute, Taiwo Afolabi’s soaring volley from 20 yards rocked the crossbar, but Chidi was on hand to coolly nod it into the net.
Substitute Ramota Kareem made it four in the 84th minute. Two minutes later, Chidi got her hat-trick with a dipping shot, and with one minute left on the clock, Effiong got her brace after a wonderful team move.
Victory earned Nigeria a 7-1 aggregate win, and a place in the final round against the winner of the Senegal/Liberia fixture. The first leg is scheduled for Saturday, 8th June.
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Marta celebrates Brazil hosting 2027 Women’s World Cup
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Marta celebrated her country’s selection to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup on Friday and called for the opening match to be played in Rio Grande do Sul, which has been devastated by recent flooding.
Brazil was chosen by the FIFA Congress to stage the tournament, beating a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany to become the first South American nation to host the event.
“I was very happy with the news and I’m sure that the 2027 Women’s World Cup will be a success, and the Brazilian people, as always, will be with open arms to welcome the world soccer community,” Marta said in a video on social media.
The 38-year-old midfielder, a six-times Women’s World Player of the Year, is retiring from international football this year.
“If it were possible, I would like the Brazilian national team’s first match to be in Rio Grande Sul. The state of Rio Grande do Sul deserve it,” Marta added.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) suspended two rounds of the Brazilian Championship due to the floods that have killed more than 150 people, according to state government figures.
-Reuters
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Brazil becomes first South American country to host Women’s World Cup after clinching 2027 event
Brazil was declared host of the 2027 Women’s World Cup after winning a vote at the annual FIFA Congress on Friday, beating the joint bid of Belgium, Netherlands and Germany to become the first South American country picked to stage the tournament.
Brazil won with 119 votes versus 78 for the joint European entry, boosted by a technical evaluation from world governing body FIFA that gave a high score for its commercial plan and stadiums purpose-built for the 2014 Men’s World Cup.
“We knew we would be celebrating a victory for South American women’s soccer and for women,” said Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation.
“You can be sure, with no vanity, we will accomplish the best World Cup for women.”
The Congress in Bangkok heard a call by FIFA for all members to implement mandatory sanctions to tackle racist abuse.
There was also a Palestinian proposal to suspend the Israel Football Association (IFA), accusing it of multiple violations of FIFA statutes, including over the war in Gaza and inclusion in Israel’s leagues of teams located in Palestinian territory.
Since an Oct. 7 cross-border raid by Hamas-led gunmen that Israel says killed more than 1,200 people, the offensive in Gaza has left more than 35,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza health officials.
‘RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY’
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said an urgent legal assessment of the Palestinian allegations would be undertaken and the FIFA Council would convene an extraordinary Congress in late July to address the issue.
He said he was extremely shocked by both the Oct. 7 attack and the devastation in Gaza, adding: “I pray for all those people who suffer unimaginably”.
The president of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), Jibril Rajoub, had accused the IFA of racism and discrimination, in a proposal that alleged complicity in its failure to condemn the operations in Gaza. The IFA rejected that.
“FIFA cannot afford to remain indifferent to these violations or the ongoing genocide in Palestine,” Rajoub told the Congress. “I ask you to stand on the right side of history… If not now, when?”
Israeli counterpart Shino Moshe Zuares said the proposal had nothing to do with football and the IFA had broken no rules.
“Once again, we are facing a cynical political and hostile attempt by the PFA to harm Israel,” he said.
“I am holding myself back … in the hope things can be better for the game for those who play in Israel, the Palestinian authority, or those who play all over the world.”
TRANSFORMATIVE BID
The vote on the Women’s World Cup had been whittled down to two candidates after the United States and Mexico withdrew to pursue the 2031 tournament instead.
Brazil had scored 4.0 out of 5 compared to 3.7 for Belgium-Netherlands-Germany in the FIFA evaluation, which had highlighted the European bid’s compactness, solid commercial viability and short distances between venues, but noted smaller capacities of its 13 stadiums.
Brazil soccer chief Rodrigues said the win was the result of conviction, not lobbying.
“We were not campaigning, asking for votes. We were working to give FIFA what it needed,” he said.
The bid’s operational manager Valesca Araujo said the aim was to boost women’s soccer in South America, which was underdeveloped and had huge potential.
“The concept we presented went beyond a sports tournament. We worked for a transformation,” she said.
“Now we have to celebrate. It’s a great achievement for South America.”
FIFA vowed to be tough on racism with a call for strict measures to be implemented by all member over instances of abuse, including forfeiting of matches, and introducing racism as an offence in players’ disciplinary codes.
It advocates suspending or abandoning games plus the introduction of a global standard gesture for players to inform referees of racist abuse.
“If it is a problem of society and society can’t deal with it, let’s deal with it in football once and for all,” Infantino said.
Infantino also weighed in on what he called a “futile debate” over the volume of matches played globally, arguing FIFA organised about 1% of club games and just 1% to 2% of national team matches.
He reminded delegates that most FIFA members “would have no football without the resources” FIFA provides.
“I hope these figures will show that we should probably stop this futile debate, it’s really pointless, and focus on what we need to do,” he said.
-Reuters
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