Brazil has withdrawn its candidacy to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, due to financial fears in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said in a statement the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro told FIFA it could not offer financial guarantees “due to the scenario of fiscal and economic austerity, caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The confederation “understands the position of caution of the Brazilian government, and of other public and private partners, which stopped them from formalizing the commitments within time or in the required form,” the statement added.
Brazil’s withdrawal means Colombia, Japan, and a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand are the remaining contenders to host the 32-team tournament. But the Confederation will support Colombia’s bid against Japan and the joint candidacy of Australia and New Zealand because South America has never hosted the tournament.
A decision is expected on June 25.
Brazil has the second-highest number of Coronavirus cases worldwide with more than 691,700. The country is also the hardest hit by COVID-19 in Latin America.
