The Maracanã will host both the opening game and the final of next year’s Fifa Women's World Cup, underlining Brazil’s status as the central stage for a tournament that is breaking new ground in South America.
Fifa confirmed that the 78,838-capacity stadium in Rio de Janeiro will be the focal point of the 10th official edition of the Women’s World Cup, with the tournament set to run from 24 June to 25 July and feature 32 teams across 64 matches.
It is the first time the women’s event has been staged in South America, and the Maracanã will become one of only three stadiums to have hosted World Cup finals in both the men’s and women’s game.
That gives the venue a significance beyond its famous profile. The Maracanã hosted the final of the men’s World Cup in 1950 and again in 2014, and it also staged the finals of the Olympic football competitions in 2016.
Why the Maracanã matters
Gianni Infantino said he could not wait to witness “a new chapter of women’s football history” unfold in Brazil next year. He also said he was already thinking about the “incredible passion, colour and energy” Brazilian fans will bring to the tournament.
Those are more than ceremonial words. The opening match at the Maracanã on 24 June, in Group A, and the final there on 25 July give Brazil the biggest possible platform, with the world’s best players taking centre stage at the country’s most recognisable stadium.
The scale of the event is also important. This is the second Women’s World Cup to include 32 teams, and it means the tournament will have the breadth and complexity of a major global championship while still carrying the feel of a landmark occasion for the region.
São Paulo gets the busiest schedule
While Rio de Janeiro takes the headline moments, São Paulo will host 10 matches, more than any other city. That makes it the busiest venue on the schedule and a key part of the tournament’s footprint across Brazil.
The rest of the competition will be spread across eight stadiums, with matches also staged in Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre and Recife. The breadth of host cities should help give the tournament a national feel rather than making it a one-city event.
Aline Pellegrino said each host city would add its own unique flavour, creating “a colourful, joyful and unforgettable celebration”. She added that the world’s best players would feel the energy from the stands and give it back on the pitch through moments and performances that could inspire girls and boys around the world.
A tournament built for big moments
The structure of the draw means the biggest matches will be spread across the country, with the semi-finals in São Paulo and the other quarter-finals split between the host cities. That should keep the tournament balanced while still leaving the Maracanã to frame the opening and closing acts.
For Brazil, that is the ideal set-up. The Maracanã brings history, São Paulo brings volume, and the tournament as a whole brings a first for South America. The next question is whether the football on the pitch can match the size of the occasion.
