BRAZIL PICKED BY FIFA TO GET SOCCER'S WOMEN'S WORLD CUP, A FIRST FOR SOUTH AMERICA

AP Photo 

 BANGKOK (AP) — Brazil will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup after a vote of FIFA’s full membership chose the South American bid over a joint proposal from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.

The FIFA Congress on Friday voted 119-78 for Brazil in the reduced field of two candidates to host the 2027 tournament after a joint bid by the United States and Mexico was pulled late last month, and South Africa withdrew its candidacy in November.

It will be the first time the global women's tournament, first played in 1991, is staged in South America .

Brazil was strongly favored to win since October when FIFA brokered deals for the men's World Cups of 2030 and 2034. It left South American neighbors Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay getting just one game each of the 104 in the 2030 tournament that will be mostly co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

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A key point for FIFA was clearing the way for its close ally Saudi Arabia to get the 2034 World Cup uncontested in a fast-track process. South American soccer body CONMEBOL's agreement to take a small part of the 2030 tournament removed it from the subsequent bidding.

The US-Mexico decision to opt out and focus on bidding for the 2031 World Cup — that decision is due next year — was another indicator of Brazil's expected win.

The Brazilian bid team hugged and celebrated on the podium after the result was announced, and described it as a victory for women's soccer, for their country and for South America.

“We are a South American country that achieved the victory for women’s soccer,” Brazil's soccer federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said before reflecting on recent flooding that has devastated parts of the country. “After the things that impact all Brazilians — a catastrophe due to the climate change — our achievement today, the first Women’s World Cup in South America, will help strengthen us."

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It was the first time that all of FIFA’s member associations had the opportunity to weigh in on the host of the women’s tournament. Previously, it was decided by the FIFA Council, the governing body’s decision-making committee.

There were 207 of the 211 members eligible to vote in the electronic ballot which gave three options: Brazil, BNG or abstain.

Brazil was even more favored to win the contest after ranking higher in an evaluation report by a FIFA-appointed panel.

The next World Cup votes, to endorse the 2030 and 2034 hosts, will be on Dec. 11 in an online congress held remotely.

- LERPONG AMSA-NGIAM

US AND MEXICO WITHDRAW BID FOR 2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

 U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup and will instead focus on securing the 2031 edition, the national governing bodies said on Monday.

The decision comes less than three weeks before the FIFA Congress chooses the hosts on May 17 and leaves Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as the remaining candidates for the 2027 event.

"Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking – and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximise its impact across the globe," U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a joint statement.

Last November, South Africa also withdrew their bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup and said they would instead focus on the 2031 tournament.

Australia and New Zealand held the 2023 finals, which Spain won. The U.S., Mexico and Canada will co-host the men's World Cup in 2026.

- Reuters 

US AND MEXICO SUBMIT JOINT BID TO HOST 2027 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

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CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation and Mexico Football Federation submitted a joint bid Friday to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, competing against an expected proposal from Brazil and a joint Germany-Netherlands-Belgium plan.

No proposed stadiums were announced by the USSF and Mexico’s governing body. The USSF said the bid envisioned taking advantage of efficiencies from the 2026 men’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

NIKE, AFTER CRITICISM, RELEASE MARY EARPS GOALKEEPER JERSEY

Reuters 

Nike released a replica jersey for England goalkeeper Mary Earps on Monday, after facing widespread criticism for not selling the popular Women's World Cup finalist's shirt.

In an Instagram post on Monday, Earps said she was not aware the jerseys would be going on sale, but thanked followers for their “incredible support.”

Earps also said the jerseys had sold out on the same day they were released. Nike(NKE.N) would not comment on whether the jersey sold out, or how many it sold, but the shirts do not currently appear for sale on its website or through the England Football Association’s website.

In a statement to Reuters, the company said that "more will be for sale later this season."

TWICE US WORLD CUP CHAMPION ERTZ BOWS OUT

USA TODAY Sports 

Two-time World Cup champion Julie Ertz bid farewell to professional soccer with a 3-0 U.S. victory over South Africa in a friendly in Cincinnati on Thursday.

Ertz, a twice Female Player of the Year who played a key role in the team's World Cup winning campaigns in 2015 and 2019, was given an emotional send off with fans holding up messages of appreciation throughout the contest.

SPANISH SOCCER FEDERATION TO HOLD URGENT MEETING OVER KISS SCANDAL

Reuters 

Spain's soccer federation will hold an urgent meeting on Monday as its president, Luis Rubiales, faces a FIFA suspension and a storm of criticism over allegations he gave a player an unwanted kiss on the lips after Spain won the Women's World Cup.

Rubiales has refused to resign over the incident with player Jenni Hermoso last Sunday in Sydney, saying the kiss was consensual. Players and a string of coaches on the women's squad are demanding he go, and the government also wants him out.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has called regional federations to the "extraordinary and urgent" meeting "to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself" following Rubiales' suspension, a RFEF spokesperson said on Sunday.

SALMA PARALLUELO | SPAIN 🇪🇸

 

MUTINEERS SILENT AS SPAIN ENJOY'S WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TRIUMPH

Spain put aside months of turmoil and division to claim their first Women's World Cup title on Sunday, overcoming a player revolt that saw La Roja lose some of their best talent even before the tournament had kicked off.

One of the world's strongest and most exciting teams arrived without some key players but a talented group of youngsters showed the grit and skill required to put all the problems to one side and won Spain's first major trophy.

But as the victors celebrated amid a clamour for interviews from the world's media after their 1-0 win over England in Sydney there was no mention of team mates who remained at home.

SPAIN'S WORLD CUP HERO CARMONA LEARNS OF FATHER'S DEAT AFTER FINAL

Reuters 

Spain captain and World Cup final hero Olga Carmona found out after the match that her father had died, the Spanish FA (RFEF) said on Sunday.

Carmona scored a 29th-minute goal to earn Spain a 1-0 win over England as they secured their first Women's World Cup title.

ENGLAND 🇬🇧 VS. AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 | ALL GOALS & HIGHLIGHTS

 

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD 2023 | ENGLAND FINISHES STRONG VS. AUSTRALIA TO REACH THE FINALS

 

SPAIN VS. SWEDEN | HIGHLIGHTS | FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023

 

CARMONA FIRES SPAIN INTO WORLD CUP FINAL WITH WIN OVER SWEDEN

Reuters 

Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 semi-final win over Sweden on Tuesday and send the Iberians into a first Women's World Cup decider as the tournament signed off in New Zealand with a flurry of goals.

Wearing the captain's armband, Carmona's 90th-minute strike from the edge of the area pinged off the crossbar and into the net two minutes after Rebecka Blomqvist had levelled the match for Sweden in front of a baying crowd of 43,217 at Eden Park.

Teenager Salma Paralluelo, Spain's quarter-final hero against the Netherlands, produced magic off the bench again, putting her side in front in the 81st minute and breathing life into what had been a slow-burning, cagey affair.

Less than a year after a player revolt against coach Jorge Vilda tore the squad apart, 'La Roja' will have the chance to lift the trophy in Sydney on Sunday when they face co-hosts Australia or England in the decider.

ENGLAND 🇬🇧 VS. COLOMBIA 🇨🇴 | FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺 VS. FRANCE 🇫🇷 | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS

 

SPAIN 🇪🇸, VS. NETHERLANDS 🇳🇱 | HIGHLIGHTS | FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

JAPAN 🇯🇵 VS. BRAZIL 🇧🇷 | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS | FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

JAPAN 🇯🇵 VS. SWEDEN 🇸🇪 | HIGHLIGHTS | FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023

 

NETHERLANDS' 🇳🇱 BEERENSTEYN SAYS U.S TEAM SHOULD LEARN FROM 'REALLY BIG MOUTH'

Reuters

Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn pulled no punches about the absent United States squad at the Women's World Cup on Thursday, saying the two-times reigning champions should have done their talking on the pitch.

The Dutch drew 1-1 with the U.S. to finish ahead of them atop Group E. The Americans were then eliminated by Sweden in the last-16, the first time in history they had gone out before the tournament semi-finals.

NIGERIA TEAM FORCED TO "SHARE BEDS" AS PLAYERS SLAM LACK OF SUPPORT AFTER WOMEN'S WORLD CUP EXIT

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Nigeria forward Ifeoma Onumonu said the Super Falcons were being held back due to a lack of resources after the penalty shoot-out defeat to England

Nigeria forward Ifeoma Onumonu criticised a lack of support from the country’s football federation after the Super Falcons were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup by England on penalties, revealing that players sometimes have to share beds at their training base back home due to insufficient resources.

Nigeria were eliminated from the World Cup after a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to the Lionesses but were the better team in large spells against the European champions, who held on to a goalless draw following Lauren James’ red card late in normal time."

Nigeria’s build-up to the World Cup was disrupted by a pay dispute, with the team’s American manager Randy Waldrum revealing before the tournament that some players had not been paid in two years by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).