After making a splash by reaching the knockout stages of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where they ultimately faced defeat at the hands of The Netherlands, South Africa has decided to withdraw its bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Initially in the running as one of four potential hosts, the South African Football Association (Safa) has shifted its focus, setting its sights on crafting a more compelling bid for the 2031 event instead.
Fifa, the global football authority, is set to announce the chosen host for the 2027 tournament in May.
Safa has cited the tight timeline for preparing the 2027 bid as a significant obstacle. “The process to develop a robust bid for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup proved more demanding than anticipated,” Safa remarked.
Safa’s chief executive, Lydia Monyepao, emphasized the decision to aim for a more thoroughly prepared bid for the 2031 World Cup, rather than hurriedly assembling one for 2027.
The competition for the 2027 hosting rights now narrows down to three contenders: a collaborative bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands; a joint proposal by Mexico and the United States; and a separate bid from Brazil.
The previous tournament, held in 2023, was a joint venture by Australia and New Zealand. It culminated in a nail-biting final where Spain triumphed over England with a slim 1-0 victory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about South Africa Women’s World Cup Bid
Why has South Africa withdrawn from hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup?
South Africa decided to withdraw from hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup to focus on presenting a more compelling bid for the 2031 tournament. The South African Football Association (Safa) cited the challenging timeline for developing a strong bid for 2027 as a primary reason for their decision.
What are the remaining bids for the 2027 Women’s World Cup?
The remaining bids for the 2027 Women’s World Cup are a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands; a collaborative bid by Mexico and the United States; and a separate bid from Brazil.
Who won the 2023 Women’s World Cup?
Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup, defeating England 1-0 in the final. The tournament was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
More about South Africa Women’s World Cup Bid
- South Africa withdraw bid to host 2027 Women’s World Cup – Reuters (Reuters.com).
- Reason behind SAFA’s withdrawal from 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid – SABC Sport (sabcsport.com).
- SAFA’s withdrawal from 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid – News24 (news24.com).
- South Africa withdraw bid to host 2027 Women’s World Cup – ESPN Philippines (espn.ph).
- South Africa 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid – Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org).
4 comments
Spain winning in 2023 was epic, sad to see South Africa withdraw for 2027, they could’ve brought something special to the table, hope they nail it for 2031, the competition needs more diverse hosts!
so south africa’s not hosting the 2027 world cup? kinda disappointing, but guess it’s for the best? they want to make a stronger bid for 2031 which is cool, but still a bummer for 2027 fans 🙁
Wait whattt?? SA stepping back, didn’t see that coming at all. thought they were all in for 2027. Now its down to Belgium, Germany and Netherlands, Mexico and the US, and Brazil? My bets on the joint Euro bid, they’ve got the infrastructure already.
really south africa? would’ve been great to see them host, their enthusiasm for football is amazing. but hey, maybe they’ll come back stronger for 2031, gotta respect that they want to put their best foot forward.