2027 FIFA Women's World Cup

On 19 October 2020, the football associations of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands announced their intention to jointly bid for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.[2] The intention is for the three countries to make further agreements about the organization before the end of this year and to record this in a covenant.[3] Belgium and the Netherlands jointly hosted the UEFA European Championship in 2000, with Belgium having hosted the UEFA Euro in 1972 alone. Germany hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011 and the UEFA European Women's Championship in 2001. Germany also hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1974 and 2006, the Euro in 1988, and will do so again in 2024. The Netherlands hosted the Women's Euro in 2017.

After the successful participation at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, then-sports minister Pauline Kantor, announced the intention to propose a bid for 2027 edition, saying, "Particularly, yes. Absolutely. It is a dream for all the development that implies. The World Cup is not just an event. The World Cup also leaves infrastructure and leaves interest. I believe that a Women's World Cup would leave an interest in all the girls, who continue and do it, but who could see themselves even more identified with their referents." Chile has hosted the 1962 FIFA World Cup, 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship, 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Santiago will host the 2023 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games between October to November of that year.[4]

Although the Italian Football Federation hasn't announced the bid yet, Italy could possibly launch and submit the bid for the 2027 edition, Italy has yet to host the FIFA Women's World Cup, if successful it would be the first time the country has hosted a major Women's football tournament, the fourth European nation after Sweden in 1995, Germany in 2011 and France in 2019 and the sixth country to host both Men's and Women's World Cups. Italy hosted major FIFA events including the 1934 and 1990 FIFA Men's World Cup, 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship and 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.[5]

The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) have expressed interest in a combined bid to host the World Cup, with a statement from Norwegian Football Federation president Terje Svendsen saying, "We have a good Nordic co-operation and the Nordic countries have a leading position in women's football."[6] Sweden hosted the 1958 FIFA World Cup and the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, becoming the first country to host both men's and women's World Cups. The 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship was held in Finland. In June 2019, the Nordic Council declared its support.[7][8] If successful, it will be the second Women's World Cup to be held in multiple countries after Australia and New Zealand in 2023. These countries have 10 over 20,000 seat stadiums planned to be in place for this event, so there is likely no venue cutting needs and all of the countries have at least one stadium suitable for FIFA size demands in the event.

Motivated by the success of the country's recent participation in FIFA women's tournaments, South African Football Association previously submitted a bid for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, but withdrew its bid in December 2019. SAFA CEO Hay Mokoena stated that South Africa would consider bidding for 2027 after the women's league and national team become more competitive. South Africa has hosted the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup and could use the infrastructure that was built for the tournament.[9]

Before his resignation, former U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro expressed an interest in having the U.S. host the tournament, stating "I believe we can and should host the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2027."[10] However, it is not known where current president Cindy Parlow Cone stands on a possible bid. If successful, this would see the U.S. hosting the Women's World Cup one year after co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup and one year before Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympics again.[11] The United States has previously hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup and this tournament twice in a row in 1999 and 2003. The 1999 edition still holds the record for highest average attendance, and the final between the host team and China at the Rose Bowl is still the most watched women's football game in history.