Latest news with #FIFAWomen'sWorldPlayeroftheYear
Forbes
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Women's World Cup 2027: Maracana Among Eight Stadiums Selected By FIFA
FIFA, the world football governing body, announced venues for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil on Wednesday, naming the iconic Maracanã Stadium among the eight venues. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, the tenth edition of the tournament, will include 32 teams for the second time in its history, following the pool expansion at the 2023 edition, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil marks the first edition of the tournament to be held in South America. The tournament will run from June 24 to July 25, with eight venues hosting 64 matches. The host cities are Belo Horizonte (Estádio Mineirão), Brasília (Estádio Nacional), Fortaleza (Arena Castelão), Porto Alegre (Estádio Beira-Rio), Recife (Arena de Pernambuco), Rio de Janeiro (Estádio do Maracanã), Salvador (Arena Fonte Nova) and São Paulo (Arena Itaquera). 'From samba to frevo, from stunning beaches to cosmopolitan cities, the world will experience the energy, colour and warmth that only Brazil can offer,' said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement. 'We will continue to work closely with the selected host cities on the exciting journey ahead of us, creating unforgettable moments in each of their stadiums in 2027, and ensuring that this tournament has a major and widespread positive impact.' The video announcement of the venues by FIFA featured Infantino along with two of the most iconic figures in women's football history: six-time FIFA Women's World Player of the Year/The Best FIFA Women's Player winner Marta and the legendary Formiga. 'I won't be on the pitch in 2027, but I'm always ready to represent Brazilian football – even more so at a special moment like this, when we're presenting the cities and stadiums that will host the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil,' said Formiga, the only player in history to appear at seven editions of a senior women's or men's World Cup. 'I played football for many years – 26 with the national team alone – so I know every corner of our country. And I can tell you: each of these cities is full of women's football talents who need support and inspiration. "The Women's World Cup will be an opportunity for them to see the greatest up close and think, 'If they can be there, so can I.' That's the impact that only an event of this size can have.' The host city selection process for the 2027 Women's World Cup began in August 2024, with 12 cities taking part in the bidding process to host games. Specialized FIFA teams representing key operational areas essential to tournament delivery visited all 12 candidate cities, assessing the proposed infrastructure and facilities according to FIFA's hosting requirements. Belém, Cuiabá, Manaus and Natal missed out in the end. The 2027 Women's World Cup will also be the last edition to have 32 participating teams, as the 2031 edition will expand to 48. 'It's tremendous that we are bringing the FIFA Women's World Cup to Brazil, one of the world's great football countries. It's wonderful for women's football and for the global growth of our sport in general,' said Jill Ellis, FIFA Chief Football Officer. 'For the host cities, there is going to be such an immense impact from hosting the biggest women's sporting event on the planet – in terms of growing the sport and the visibility. What is very, very special about the FIFA Women's World Cup is that it's the stage where heroes are made and champions are crowned.'Spain are the defending Women's World Cup champions, having won their maiden title by beating England 1-0 in the final in 2023.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carli Lloyd on USWNT and Hall of Fame honor: ‘I played purely for the love of the game'
Carli Lloyd on USWNT and Hall of Fame honor: 'I played purely for the love of the game' Two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd will soon be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and she is not downplaying the moment. 'I never imagined something like this would happen,' Lloyd said Tuesday, a little more than two weeks before her May 3 induction at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Behind her hung a U.S. women's national team jersey with the No. 316 — her number of appearances in her nearly two decades with the team. Advertisement 'My career was not one that was meant to go the way that it went, and I was never really the next best thing, but I just grinded away,' she said. 'So to be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with so many other greats is a dream come true. I am incredibly honored. And I was honored every single time I put the uniform on — an amazing thing to be able to represent my country and continue to pave the way and pay it forward to the next generation.' A native of Medford, N.J., Lloyd's passion for soccer started at 5 years old. Throughout her decorated career, Lloyd said she constantly reinvented herself. She began as an attacking center midfielder out of college, shifted to defending midfield, then returned to midfield — playing both left and right — before ultimately transforming into a striker late in her career. One of the most decorated players of her generation, she cemented her legacy with a hat trick in the 2015 World Cup final against Japan that delivered the U.S. its first title in 16 years — and set them up to go back-to-back in 2019. 'I love the journey of that World Cup because where the team started and where we ended up was two totally different feelings,' she said. 'I was thinking I was a horrible soccer player and couldn't play, and my confidence was low, and all of these things all of a sudden in a tournament, having to snap out of it.' Advertisement And snap out of it she did. Lloyd earned the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player and the Silver Boot as the No. 2 goal scorer of that year. She was also named FIFA Women's World Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Lloyd is also remembered for scoring the winning goal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing against Brazil in the 96th minute of extra time, helping the USWNT collect its third Olympic gold medal. Lloyd went on to win another at the 2012 London Games, adding a bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021. 'The evolution of the national team, for me, was twofold. I joined during a pivotal moment — right after the 1999ers and the '04 Olympic team had fought for guaranteed contracts, health benefits, and pregnancy leave. At the time, I didn't fully grasp the history behind those battles,' she said. Lloyd says 2015 was the perfect moment to catapult the USWNT. Advertisement 'Looking back, I do wish I were younger and playing in this era,' Lloyd said. 'The game has exploded — more investment, more support, more competition. We did our part. Now it's their turn.' Lloyd retired from professional soccer in 2021 after finishing her career with her hometown club, Sky Blue FC, later NJ/NY Gotham FC. Over 11 seasons in the U.S., she also played first-division soccer for the Atlanta Beat, the Western New York Flash and the Houston Dash. She spent a season with Manchester City in the Women's Super League, winning the English Women's FA Cup title in 2017. Still, the December visit from fellow New Jersey soccer player Alexi Lalas, during which he told her she was going to be a Hall of Famer, caught her off guard. Lloyd was surprised to find out she would be a first-ballot inductee — even if others weren't. 'I was really thrown off guard when Alexi Lalas showed up at my house, although I was kind of questioning it, but I had the distraction of our daughter just basically, kind of being born,' she said. 'I know that I'll probably get emotional when I am standing up there receiving my jacket and saying a few words, but I'm just super happy that I can be there, be part of it again, be honored amongst an unbelievable group of people, and have my family there as well.' Advertisement Lloyd was selected from a group of finalists that also included Yael Averbuch, Lori Chalupny, Stephanie Cox, Cat Whitehill and Amy Rodriguez, among others. She and Nick Rimando were elected via player ballot, while Chris Armas and Mary Harvey were selected by the veteran ballot and former MLS executive Mark Abbott earned his spot through the builder ballot. 'I never played for the money, I never played it for the fame,' she said when asked about her full circle moment receiving her spot at the Hall of Fame. 'I never played for glory. I played purely for the love of the game. And I think that that's where some kids get it a little bit wrong; they see all the glitz and the glamor and what you get from winning, but it starts with love.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, Gotham FC, Soccer, NWSL, UK Women's Football 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
15-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Carli Lloyd on USWNT and Hall of Fame honor: ‘I played purely for the love of the game'
Two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd will soon be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and she is not downplaying the moment. 'I never imagined something like this would happen,' Lloyd said Tuesday, a little more than two weeks before her May 3 induction at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Behind her hung a U.S. women's national team jersey with the No. 316 — her number of appearances in her nearly two decades with the team. Advertisement 'My career was not one that was meant to go the way that it went, and I was never really the next best thing, but I just grinded away,' she said. 'So to be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with so many other greats is a dream come true. I am incredibly honored. And I was honored every single time I put the uniform on — an amazing thing to be able to represent my country and continue to pave the way and pay it forward to the next generation.' A native of Medford, N.J., Lloyd's passion for soccer started at 5 years old. Throughout her decorated career, Lloyd said she constantly reinvented herself. She began as an attacking center midfielder out of college, shifted to defending midfield, then returned to midfield — playing both left and right — before ultimately transforming into a striker late in her career. One of the most decorated players of her generation, she cemented her legacy with a hat trick in the 2015 World Cup final against Japan that delivered the U.S. its first title in 16 years — and set them up to go back-to-back in 2019. 'I love the journey of that World Cup because where the team started and where we ended up was two totally different feelings,' she said. 'I was thinking I was a horrible soccer player and couldn't play, and my confidence was low, and all of these things all of a sudden in a tournament, having to snap out of it.' And snap out of it she did. Lloyd earned the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player and the Silver Boot as the No. 2 goal scorer of that year. She was also named FIFA Women's World Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Lloyd is also remembered for scoring the winning goal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing against Brazil in the 96th minute of extra time, helping the USWNT collect its third Olympic gold medal. Lloyd went on to win another at the 2012 London Games, adding a bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021. 'The evolution of the national team, for me, was twofold. I joined during a pivotal moment — right after the 1999ers and the '04 Olympic team had fought for guaranteed contracts, health benefits, and pregnancy leave. At the time, I didn't fully grasp the history behind those battles,' she said. Advertisement Lloyd says 2015 was the perfect moment to catapult the USWNT. 'Looking back, I do wish I were younger and playing in this era,' Lloyd said. 'The game has exploded — more investment, more support, more competition. We did our part. Now it's their turn.' Lloyd retired from professional soccer in 2021 after finishing her career with her hometown club, Sky Blue FC, later NJ/NY Gotham FC. Over 11 seasons in the U.S., she also played first-division soccer for the Atlanta Beat, the Western New York Flash and the Houston Dash. She spent a season with Manchester City in the Women's Super League, winning the English Women's FA Cup title in 2017. Still, the December visit from fellow New Jersey soccer player Alexi Lalas, during which he told her she was going to be a Hall of Famer, caught her off guard. Lloyd was surprised to find out she would be a first-ballot inductee — even if others weren't. 'I was really thrown off guard when Alexi Lalas showed up at my house, although I was kind of questioning it, but I had the distraction of our daughter just basically, kind of being born,' she said. 'I know that I'll probably get emotional when I am standing up there receiving my jacket and saying a few words, but I'm just super happy that I can be there, be part of it again, be honored amongst an unbelievable group of people, and have my family there as well.' Lloyd was selected from a group of finalists that also included Yael Averbuch, Lori Chalupny, Stephanie Cox, Cat Whitehill and Amy Rodriguez, among others. She and Nick Rimando were elected via player ballot, while Chris Armas and Mary Harvey were selected by the veteran ballot and former MLS executive Mark Abbott earned his spot through the builder ballot. 'I never played for the money, I never played it for the fame,' she said when asked about her full circle moment receiving her spot at the Hall of Fame. 'I never played for glory. I played purely for the love of the game. And I think that that's where some kids get it a little bit wrong; they see all the glitz and the glamor and what you get from winning, but it starts with love.'
