Missing the World Cup? Relief is on the way next July with Women’s World Cup in Brazil
China among 14 teams that have already qualified for tournament, which will be last to feature 32 teams before becoming a 48-team event
It is the women’s turn now. The next football World Cup, the women’s edition, is set for the next northern hemisphere summer in Brazil. Just as Spain won the men’s trophy in the recently concluded tournament, that nation’s women were the champions three years ago.
Currently the top-ranked women’s team in the world, Spain topped England 1-0 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in Sydney. That squad was loaded with talent, including Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, as well as young star Salma Paralluelo.
In a television interview following the men’s final, Spain star Rodri paid Bonmati the ultimate compliment: “I’m trying to see if I can get to her level.”
The road to Brazil
Qualification for the World Cup is well under way, with 14 teams already securing berths. Brazil, who qualify automatically as hosts, have never won the women’s tournament.
“Some time ago the opportunities for men and women were not equal. But that’s changing. This World Cup has tremendous potential to make that change truly happen,” said former Brazil defender Aline Pellegrino, now executive director of legacy and stakeholder affairs for Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“So there’s a great deal of excitement and expectation that we’ll have the best possible atmosphere in our stadiums. [World governing body] Fifa, together with the federal government and the host cities, have been working very hard to ensure that we’ll have full stadiums and that everything runs as efficiently as possible.”