While nearly 30,000 fans were enjoying 2-2 draw between Brazil and Argentina in the friendly women’s international at Recife’s Arena de Pernambuco, staff from FIFA’s local subsidiary in Brazil, FIFA27, were focusing on events away from the pitch. From cleaning to security, various departments used the match to observe stadium operations and fine-tune preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ which will take place from 24 June to 25 July 2027. Recife was the fourth of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Host Cities to stage a friendly match featuring the Brazilian women’s national team in 2026 and, consequently, the FIFA observation team. In June, staff members observed the two matches against the United States at the Arena Itaquera in São Paulo and the Arena Castelão in Fortaleza. Those were followed by two matches against Argentina at the Estádio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre on 10 October followed by the game in Recife three days later. The other Host Cities are Belo Horizonte (Estádio Mineirão), Brasília (Estádio Nacional), Rio de Janeiro (Estádio do Maracanã) and Salvador (Arena Fonte Nova).

“It is extremely significant that the Brazilian national team has played at four stadiums that will host the (FIFA Women’s) World Cup next year. It is important to create this atmosphere, to get the fans into the stadium, and for the host city to understand how this operation works,” said Aline Pellegrino, Director of Legacy and Institutional Relations at FIFA27 and former Brazil captain. “For our part at FIFA, we are starting to work with the stadiums to organise match operations and raise the standard of what will be delivered to the 32 national teams. I’m sure we’re on the right track.”

The observations are part of efforts to ensure that the 32 participating teams, officials and supporters enjoy the best possible conditions at the tournament, which is being held in South America for the first time. Thiago Jannuzzi, Director of Operations at FIFA27, said that no matter how experienced the organisers were, it was important for them to become familiar with conditions at the matches. “We’re using these friendlies to bring our team here and understand how transport works around the stadium, security, crowd management, the pitch, the teams’ changing rooms – in short, everything involved in delivering an event of the highest standard. We’ll do the same at next year’s friendlies to continue refining our team,” he said.

The match in Recife was also attended by Jill Elis, FIFA Chief Football Officer; Rhiannon Martin, Head of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™; and Laura Georges, Head of Strategic Football Development at FIFA. They also met the Brazilian government’s Minister for Sport, Paulo Henrique Cordeiro, and the Special Secretary for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Juliana Agatte. Jill Elis emphasised the importance of the home team playing matches in the stadiums that will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year and expressed her satisfaction with the turnout from the Pernambuco public. “The support here in Recife was incredible,” she said. “It is very important that the home team plays in front of its own fans, generating enthusiasm and energy for the (FIFA Women’s) World Cup taking place next June. Brazilians are getting a taste of what to expect next year.”