With exactly one year to go until the 2027 Women's World Cup, Brazil is intensifying preparations for the tournament, which will be held across eight cities from 24 June to 25 July 2025. This marks the third major women's football event in Brazil in two decades, following the 2007 Pan American Games and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Legacy and Leadership
Aline Pellegrino, who captained Brazil in the 2007 Pan American Games, now serves as executive director of legacy and stakeholder affairs for the 2027 tournament. She emphasizes that the World Cup itself represents a legacy built by generations of women long rendered invisible. Her dream is for the tournament to be remembered not only for the matches but for the changes it brings for future generations.
Midfielder Angelina Constantino, one of the current captains of the national team, was only seven during the 2007 Pan American Games. She now wears the iconic No 8 shirt formerly worn by Brazilian legend Formiga. Constantino captained the side that beat Spain 4-2 to reach the Olympic final in Paris 2024. She believes the team's performances on home soil will represent much more than a football game for Brazilian women and girls.
Fan Support and Record Attendance
Recent friendlies against the USA demonstrated growing support. The first match in São Paulo drew 31,336 fans to the Neo Química Arena, despite being scheduled at the same time as a men's national team friendly. The second match in Fortaleza attracted 55,744 supporters, setting a women's football attendance record for the north-eastern region. Constantino noted that 68% of the 55,000 fans were women, highlighting a different audience dynamic.
USA head coach Emma Hayes commented that she had never heard anything like the crowd noise and considered it a mock for what to expect in 2027. Brazil won the first friendly 2-1, while the USA won the second 1-0 in a tense match that saw eight red cards for Brazil and six yellow cards for the USA.
Historical Context and Recognition
Pellegrino recalls the 2007 Pan American Games final, where Brazil beat the USA 5-0 at the Maracanã in front of over 70,000 fans. She describes emerging from the tunnel to that crowd as an indescribable, unforgettable moment. The 2027 World Cup final will coincide with the 20th anniversary of that gold medal win.
Brazilian women's football has a history of struggle and resilience, built by women who dared to play when it was banned. This month, the Brazilian government introduced a Women's World Cup Law to financially compensate pioneers of the national team from the 1980s and 1990s. Pellegrino stresses the importance of listening to and honoring these stories to make historical amends.
On-Pitch Ambitions
Both Pellegrino and Constantino hope the tournament will accelerate ongoing processes and demonstrate the evolution of women's football in Brazil. They dream of a first World Cup win for Brazil's women, who lost the 2007 final 2-0 to Germany in China. Constantino emphasizes that playing at home with family and fans watching will be a great moment for the women's game, and they can use this historic moment to change how people see Brazilian football.
