How SAFA plans to improve World Cup bid

SAFA CEO, Tebogo Motlanthe, has detailed how the SA football association plans to improve their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid.

SAFA has made their intention of hosting the 2027 FIFA Women’s Cup clear since late last year, with president Danny Jordaan leading the way.

Since then, the association has received backing from the government, with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee also jumping on the train to support SAFA.

South Africa successfully hosted the 2010 FIFA Men’s World Cup. The country could enter the history books for staging both the male and female versions of the global showpiece.

HOW THE WORLD CUP BIDDING IS EXPECTED TO PROCEED

According to FIFA, parties with similar interests as SAFA will need to confirm their bid with the world football governing body in May 2023.

Later this year, during the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, SAFA and all the interested parties will be expected to undergo a workshop for the bidding course.

Afterwards, in December, the final bidding will be expected to be submitted from all parties interested.

The confirmation of the host nation is set to be revealed on 17 May 2024.

The SAFA CEO announced the mandate assigned to him and the SAFA president Jordaan from the NEC regarding their bid for the 2027 World Cup.

According to Motlanthe, the mandate is to find the face for the bid. And SAFA will look to have a female fill this role for relatability purposes.

MOTLANTHE ON SAFA’S MANDATE

“Of course, the NEC has requested that we strengthen South Africa’s bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said Motlanthe.

“And to also look for the person who will be the face of the bid. This mandate has been given to me and the president to identify the face of the bid.

“It must be a woman because we are talking about the FIFA Women’s World Cup. So we will sit down and profile what kind of a person do we want to lead to the bid.

“We are looking at having women playing a major role in the bid. I think those were the main issues that were discussed today,” concluded Motlanthe.

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