South Africa withdraw FIFA Women’s World Cup bid

South Africa have pulled out of the contest to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, citing fears they would have not be able to create a comprehensive bid document timeously and would have to deliver a “rushed presentation” to FIFA during December. The deadline for submitting comprehensive plans is 8 December 2023 – according to Reuters, South African officials believe it would be wiser to try and host the following edition in 2031. The withdrawal reduces the 2027 contest to just three bids. Joint bids from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as a joint bid by Mexico and the United States, and a single bid from Brazil.