Maracanã to host opening game and final at next year’s Women’s World Cup
Fifa has released the schedule for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil with the opening game and final set to played in Rio de Janeiro’s iconic stadium
silverguide.site –
The iconic Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro will host the opening game and the final of next year’s Women’s World Cup, Fifa has announced.
The 78,838-capacity stadium, which hosted the finals of the 1950 and 2014 men’s World Cups as well as the finals of the Olympic football competitions in 2016, will be the venue for Brazil’s opening Group A match on Thursday 24 June, before staging the climax on 25 July.
World football’s governing body released the schedule for all 64 matches at the tournament, which features 32 teams. The draw will take place later this year and after more of the qualification playoffs have been contested.
Brazil will also play group matches at Arena Itaquera in São Paulo – which will host 10 matches at the finals, more than any other host city – and at the Estádio Nacional in Brasília. Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have been selected to host the semi-finals, with the latter also staging the bronze medal match. All eight of the stadiums involved in next summer’s tournament staged matches at the men’s tournament in 2014.
Belo Horizonte – the scene of Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany 12 years ago – has been chosen to host a quarter-final. The winners of Group A will play in that quarter-final if they progress that far. Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo will host the three other quarter-finals.
Porto Alegre and Recife are also staging matches in what is the 10th official edition of the Women’s World Cup and the second to include 32 teams, after the expanded tournament, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, in 2023. Spain won the title for the first time in Sydney after victory over England in the final.
“We can’t wait to witness a new chapter of women’s football history unfold when the world’s best players, coaches, fans and local communities take centre stage in Brazil next year,” Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, said. “I already have goosebumps thinking about the incredible passion, colour and energy that Brazilian fans will bring to the tournament.”
“Each host city will add its own unique flavour, making this a colourful, joyful and unforgettable celebration,” former Brazil captain Aline Pellegrino said. “The world’s best players will feel that energy from the stands and they will give it back on the pitch through moments and performances that will inspire girls and boys around the world.”
It is the first time the women’s event has been staged in South America and the Maracanã will join the now-demolished Råsunda Stadium in Solna, Sweden and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, as having hosted World Cup finals for both the men’s and women’s game.
The final schedule will be published later this year.

Comment