Photo: Collected
Football's world governing body FIFA will decide the hosts for the 2027 Women's World Cup at its congress in Bangkok on Friday, where the war in Gaza will also rear its head.
After the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand lifted the women's game to new heights, FIFA must decide whether to take the 2027 edition to South America for the first time or return to Europe.
FIFA's 74th Congress -- held for the first time in Premier League-mad Thailand -- will also hear a call from the Palestinian Football Association to sanction Israel for "violations of international laws", though FIFA says it will not vote on the matter.
Delegates will vote on Women's World Cup bids from Brazil and a joint offer from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Brazil, home of women's football greats such as Formiga and Marta, appear to be the narrow favourites after FIFA's evaluation task force scored their bid slightly higher.
The evaluation report notes the "tremendous impact on women's football in the region" that South America hosting the Women's World Cup would have.
Brazil's bid includes 10 stadiums used for the men's World Cup in 2014, with Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana lined up for the opening match and the final.
But work needs to be done, in particular to the Amazonia stadium in Manaus which has stood almost unused for a decade.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has been in turmoil with president Ednaldo Rodrigues ousted by a court ruling in December, only to be reinstated a week later by another judge.
Suspicions of government interference raised the threat of penalties from FIFA or football's regional ruling body in South America, Conmebol.
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