Africa registered its intention to bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and submitted letters of support from the Government and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) a few months ago.
Dr Jordaan said Thursday’s meeting was the first of similar engagements with the Minister that will take place South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan met Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa in Pretoria on Thursday (30 March 2023) to discuss a host of issues, including South Africa’s interest to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
South in the coming months as South Africa bids to bring the 2027 event to the country.
“All the key dates are outlined in the bid document and we will have further discussions with the Minister (at a later stage),” Dr Jordaan said.
“This is also in preparation for the big workshop for bidders during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July where we will get the final requirements for bidding nations.
“But for now, we are at a point where we have expressed interest, which we have expressed.”
Among the other issues discussed at the meeting were sponsorship of women’s football, school soccer and broader football technical matters.
Minister Kodwa said the meeting was part of several engagements that he has had with stakeholders in sport since assuming the position in the beginning of the month. He said they were pleased with Bafana Bafana after the team qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday (28 March 2023).
“The meeting was part of our engagements and consultations with a number of stakeholders. As you know SAFA plays a very important part in terms of the federations we have in the country,” he said.
“These are introductory meetings, not so much about the challenges and problems facing (the stakeholders) but to indicate that we must work together and also make sure we share each other’s commitment to build football in this country, not just the country but the economy of football.
“There are a number of events where SAFA will participate internationally, including hosting and bidding, which is part of the economy of sport. We will share those at a later stage in terms of what details and what support Government will give to some of those events, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027, and a number of events we will attend with SAFA.”
Key dates for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup bids:
Member associations will have until 21 April 2023 to submit their expressions of interest to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.
19 May 2023: Member associations to confirm their interest in bidding to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup by submitting the Bidding Agreement
August 2023: Bid workshop and observer programme to take place during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
8 December 2023: Member associations to submit their bids to FIFA
February 2024: FIFA to organise on-site inspection visits to bidding countries
May 2024: Publication of FIFA’s Bid Evaluation Report
Q2 2024: Designation of bids by the FIFA Council
17 May 2024: Appointment of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 host(s) by the FIFA Congress.
The above dates are subject to change.
SOURCED FROM SAFA WEBSITE.
