While focus remains on men's World Cup, clock starts on 2027 Women's World Cup

While most of the soccer world is focused on the men at the World Cup, the countdown has begun for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The women's tournament is set to start June 24, 2027, hosted by a South American country for the first time. Brazil hosted the men's World Cup in 1950 and 2014.

"I think that the host country, it sleeps and breathes football. So, I think just the energy you're going to see from the public, the general public, and obviously the teams touching down in Brazil, I mean, it's such a unique, special country," FIFA chief football officer Jill Ellis said at an event Wednesday in Miami. "I think the same energy you're going to feel right now when you bring the world together, and you have an incredible product in women's football, I mean, the level of quality the players is so extraordinary that I think, honestly, it will be an epic showcase of football and fandom."

In addition to Miami, a countdown event was also held in Rio de Janeiro. Even in Vancouver, British Columbia, at Wednesday's World Cup match between Switzerland and co-host Canada, video signage flashed with ads for the upcoming women's tournament.

365 days to go. ⏳ <br><br>The excitement for <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/FIFAWWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWWC</a> 2027 is building! ✨ <a href="https://t.co/b8z6qjGaEy">pic.twitter.com/b8z6qjGaEy</a>

All eight cities that will host women's matches next year also hosted men's games in 2014: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife and Salvador.

Qualification for the tournament has already begun. Brazil, which has an automatic spot as host, has never won the women's tournament and it remains to be seen whether Marta, the six-time FIFA world