JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Africa has withdrawn from the race to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, citing concerns about having to deliver a “rushed presentation” to FIFA in December.
The deadline for submitting comprehensive tournament plans is December 8, and South African officials believe it would be better to try to host the next edition in 2031.
“We felt it was better to present a well-prepared bid for 2031… rather than producing a rushed presentation,” said South African Football Association chief executive Lydia Monyepao.
South Africa’s withdrawal reduces the 2027 competition to three bids: Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico the United States, and Brazil.
On May 17, 2024, a FIFA congress will decide which bid will succeed and join co-hosts Australia and New Zealand in staging the increasingly popular four-year tournament.
Spain is the champion, having defeated England 1-0 in a final attended by 75,784 people in Sydney last August.
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