FIFA has unveiled the official match schedule for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, confirming that the iconic Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro will host both the opening match and the tournament final.

The schedule, released on Thursday, August 20, 2026, details when and where all 64 matches of the expanded 32-team tournament will be played across eight Brazilian host cities. Blueprint reports

The tournament, which will be the 10th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the first to be staged in South America, is scheduled to run from June 24 to July 25, 2027.

Brazil to open campaign at Maracanã

Hosts Brazil will have the honour of opening their campaign at one of football’s most famous venues when they take on their first group-stage opponents at the Maracanã on Thursday, June 24.

The Brazilian side will then travel to São Paulo for their second group match at Arena Itaquera on Tuesday, June 29, before completing the group stage at the Estádio Nacional in Brasília on Sunday, July 4.

The identity of Brazil’s opponents will be confirmed after the final tournament draw later this year.

All eight cities guaranteed knockout action

FIFA said its scheduling plan was designed to give each of the eight host cities a meaningful role in the competition.

Every host city will stage at least seven matches, with each guaranteed to host at least one knockout fixture.

Brasília, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador will host matches through the round of 16, while Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza will join Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in hosting quarter-final matches.

The arrangement means supporters across different regions of Brazil will have the opportunity to witness the world’s leading women’s footballers without the competition being concentrated in only a few major cities.

Maracanã set for historic double

The decision to stage both the opening match and final at the Maracanã gives the tournament a particularly historic setting.

The legendary Rio venue will host the second semi-final before welcoming the finalists for the July 25 showpiece.

When it stages the final, the Maracanã will become only the third stadium in history to host both a men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup final.

It joins the former Råsunda Stadium in Solna, Sweden, which hosted the 1958 men’s and 1995 women’s finals, and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, United States, which staged the 1994 men’s and 1999 women’s finals.

São Paulo to host semi-final

São Paulo will also play a major role in the closing stages of the competition, hosting one semi-final as well as the bronze-medal match.

FIFA said the schedule was developed with sporting considerations in mind, including travel distances, recovery periods and the need to provide fair conditions for all 32 participating teams.

At the same time, organisers sought to ensure that supporters across Brazil could share in the tournament experience.

FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer Dame Sarai Bareman said the scheduling process had attempted to strike a balance between sporting fairness and the desire to involve all eight host cities.

She also expressed excitement about beginning the tournament at the Maracanã, describing the venue as an iconic setting for the opening of what is expected to be a landmark edition of the competition.

Infantino excited about Brazilian atmosphere

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organisation was looking forward to seeing women’s football history made in Brazil.

According to him, the tournament would provide an opportunity for players, coaches, supporters and local communities to take centre stage while experiencing the passion associated with Brazilian football.

Infantino also highlighted the atmosphere expected across the eight host cities, saying Brazilian fans would bring colour, energy and enthusiasm to the global tournament.

Former Brazil women’s national team captain Aline Pellegrino, who is serving as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Executive Director of Legacy and Stakeholder Affairs, said hosting the tournament was a source of immense pride.

Pellegrino said the event would bring people from Brazil and around the world together while giving each host city an opportunity to showcase its own identity.

Fans can begin planning

With the schedule now released, supporters can begin making plans for the tournament, although the final fixture list will be updated after the tournament draw later in 2026.

The 2027 competition will feature 32 teams competing across eight venues in what will be the first Women’s World Cup hosted in South America.

For Brazil, the tournament offers an opportunity to combine home advantage with the prospect of making history on home soil.

For the rest of the world, the Maracanã will provide a fitting stage for the opening and final chapters of a tournament FIFA expects to become a major celebration of women’s football.

The full match schedule has been made available through FIFA’s digital platforms, while ticket-interest registration and volunteer opportunities have also been opened ahead of the tournament.