Maracanã to host opening game 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. The 78,838-capacity stadium, which hosted the finals of the 1950 and 2014 men’s World Cups as well as the finals of the Olympic football competitions in 2016, will be the venue for Brazil’s opening Group A match on 24 June, before staging the final on 25 July.

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.

Brazil will also play group matches at the Arena Itaquera in São Paulo – which will host 10 matches at the finals, more than any other host city – and at the Estádio Nacional in Brasília. Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have been selected to host the semi‑finals, with the latter also staging the third-fourth playoff. All eight of the stadiums involved in the finals staged matches at the men’s tournament in 2014.

Belo Horizonte – the scene of Brazil’s humiliating 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany 12 years ago – has been chosen to host a quarter-final. The winners of Group A will play in that quarter-final if they progress that far. 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 and the second to include 32 teams, after 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.

Spain beat England in the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup to lift the trophy for the first time. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

“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.”

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.