The federal government estimates that it will need an investment of at least R$1.5 billion for Brazil to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Women’s World Cup will be held for the first time in South America, with 32 teams and games in eight cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo.
The figure is mentioned in an internal document from the Ministry of Sports, but data from other departments indicate that demand may be greater.
The government states that the value is still under discussion. It is also awaiting the approval of the general World Cup law to finalize the bill — the text is under analysis by the Senate and provides for rules on commercial rights, security and infrastructure for the event, in addition to prize amounts for former players and encouragement for women’s participation in sports.
The document from the Ministry of Sports, prepared in mid-April, states that the Ministry of Justice and Public Security has the greatest need for funds, with R$676 million that must be distributed in the 2026 and 2027 Budgets. The funds will be shared with the PF, PRF and National Force.
Another document from the Ministry of Justice itself, made last week, says that the amount required for the event could exceed R$760 million, a figure that includes the purchase of more than R$150 million in equipment and anti-drone systems, in addition to around R$130 million for vehicles, armored vehicles and other vehicles.
The Ministry of Justice has already asked the government’s economic team to add around R$600 million to its current Budget.
When contacted, the Justice and Sports departments gave the same response and reported that the amount that will be allocated by the government for the event has not yet been defined, “considering that the planning and budget sizing process is still ongoing and involves multiple bodies and action fronts”.
They also said that the investments will focus on actions related to public security, telecommunications infrastructure, in addition to “building the legacy of the World Cup” and promoting the event.
The Ministry of Sports stated to the economic team, in April, that the spreadsheet was intended to “signal the additional need for supplementation” from various bodies. He also pointed out that the Sports department itself needs R$620 million by next year.
The amount must be applied to the implementation of 12 women’s football training centers, for R$180 million, and for marketing actions that exceed R$300 million.
The Sports resource also includes R$15 million to pay prizes of R$500,000 to 30 former athletes. Those who received a bronze medal in the 1988 International Tournament, the embryo of the women’s World Cup, or who represented the Brazilian team in the 1991 World Cup, the first official women’s edition of the competition organized by FIFA, were selected.
The documentation also states that Sport will invest R$95 million to create 500 women’s football centers on football fields and courts built by the Novo PAC. The government is also considering distributing 10,000 scholarships worth R$410 to grassroots female football athletes, totaling R$4.1 million.
The Ministry of Communications will need R$220 million more in the Budget until 2027, according to estimates made in April by the government. In a note, the ministry said that the value is preliminary, but that the idea is to invest the resources in the connectivity infrastructure for the event.
“The plan foresees the installation of telecommunications networks to interconnect the eight stadiums, the broadcast studio in Copacabana and the Centralized Hub (IBC) at Píer Mauá (RJ), in addition to guaranteeing high availability internet and technical support 24 hours a day throughout the tournament”, says the ministry.
The Ministry of Sports document also mentions plans to add around R$3.45 million to the budgets of the Ministry of Health, GSI and Abin.
In a technical note made at the beginning of May, the Ministry of Justice says that the purchase of anti-drone equipment is essential. It also states that security forces have already identified the use of these systems by criminal factions in Brazil to monitor and attack police officers, recognize areas, provide logistical support to organized crime and throw objects inside prisons.
“Major international sporting events are highly vulnerable to this type of threat due to the massive concentration of audiences, the presence of foreign delegations, global media exposure, and the need for protection from national and international authorities”, says the document.
Brazil hosted the 2014 World Cup. More than a year earlier, federal investment planned for the event reached R$14.9 billion, in unadjusted values.
Brazil’s choice to host the Women’s World Cup was announced in May 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand. The Brazilian candidacy surpassed the joint proposal presented by Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The games are scheduled between June 24th and July 25th of next year.
