The Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro has been confirmed as the venue for the opening game and the final of next year’s Women’s World Cup. The 78,838-capacity stadium, which previously hosted the men’s World Cup finals in 1950 and 2014, will see Brazil’s Group A match on 24 June and the tournament final on 25 July.
FIFA released the schedule on Thursday for all 64 matches of the 32-team tournament. The draw for the competition is expected to take place this year, following further qualification playoffs.
Brazil will also play group matches at Arena Itaquera in São Paulo and the Estádio Nacional in Brasília. São Paulo will host 10 matches, the most of any host city, and will also stage a semi-final and the bronze medal match, alongside Rio de Janeiro hosting the other semi-final. All eight stadiums involved in the tournament were also used for the men’s tournament in 2014.
Belo Horizonte is slated to host a quarter-final, with the winners of Group A playing there if they advance. Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo will host the remaining three quarter-finals. Porto Alegre and Recife are also among the cities staging matches for the 10th official edition of the Women’s World Cup.