Rio’s Maracanã to host opening fixture and final at next year’s Women’s World Cup

The Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro will host the opening game and the final of next year’s Women’s World Cup, with Brazil’s Group A opener scheduled for 24 June and the final set for 25 July.

The 78,838-capacity stadium, which hosted the finals of the 1950 and 2014 men’s World Cups and the Olympic football finals in 2016, will stage Brazil’s opening Group A match on 24 June before hosting the final on 25 July. It is the first time the women’s event has been staged in South America and the Maracanã will join the now-demolished Råsunda Stadium in Solna, Sweden, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, as having hosted World Cup finals for both the men’s and women’s game.

Brazil will also play group matches at Arena Itaquera in São Paulo and at the Estádio Nacional in Brasília, with Arena Itaquera set to host 10 matches at the finals, more than any other host city.

Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have been chosen to host the semi-finals, with São Paulo also scheduled to stage the third-fourth playoff. All eight of the stadiums involved in the finals staged matches at the men’s tournament in 2014.

Belo Horizonte has been selected to host a quarter-final; it was the scene of Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany 12 years ago. The winners of Group A will play in that Belo Horizonte quarter-final if they progress that far, while Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo will host the three other quarter-finals.

Porto Alegre and Recife are also staging matches in the 10th official edition of the Women’s World Cup, which follows the expanded tournament cohosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Spain won the title for the first time in Sydney after victory over England.

“We can’t wait to witness a new chapter of women’s football history unfold when the world’s best players, coaches, fans and local communities take centre stage in Brazil next year,” said Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino. “I already have goosebumps thinking about the incredible passion, colour and energy that Brazilian fans will bring to the tournament.” The former Brazil captain Aline Pellegrino said: “Each host city will add its ​own unique flavour, making ​this a colourful, joyful ​and unforgettable celebration. The ​world’s best players ‌will feel that ​energy from ​the stands and they will give it back on the pitch through moments and performances that will inspire girls and boys around the world.”

Fifa released the schedule for all 64 matches for the tournament, which features 32 teams. The draw will take place after more of the qualification playoffs have been contested.