Image Source: South African Football Association CEO Lydia Monyepao at a press conference at Safa House in Nasrec, Johannesburg on Tuesday.
South Africa Withdraws Bid to Host 2027 Women’s World Cup
Published By Everything ZA Travel
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Africa has withdrawn its bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, citing concerns about the timing of the bidding process and a desire to focus on hosting the 2031 tournament instead.
“We felt it was better to present a well-prepared bid for 2031, rather than producing a rushed presentation,” said Lydia Monyepao, the chief executive of the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The deadline for submitting bids for the 2027 Women’s World Cup is December 8, 2023. South Africa’s withdrawal leaves three bids in the running: a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany; a joint bid from Mexico and the United States; and a bid from Brazil.
The FIFA Council will decide the host of the 2027 Women’s World Cup at its meeting in May 2024.
Here are some of the reasons why South Africa may have withdrawn its bid:
- Concerns about the timing of the bidding process: The deadline for submitting bids is relatively short, and South Africa may not have had enough time to prepare a strong bid.
- A desire to focus on hosting the 2031 tournament: South Africa may believe that it has a better chance of hosting the 2031 tournament, as it will have more time to prepare a bid and there will be less competition.
Despite withdrawing its bid, South Africa is still committed to developing women’s football in the country. SAFA has a number of initiatives in place to promote women’s football at all levels, from grassroots to elite.
The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be the ninth edition of the tournament, and will be the first time that it has been held in Africa. The tournament is expected to be a major boost for women’s football in the continent.
