No worries KNVB after lower appreciation of World Cup bid: ‘Marginal difference’

NOS Football•today, 7:36 PM

Gijs de Jong, secretary general of the KNVB, is not concerned now that Brazil’s organizational bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup has scored higher at FIFA than the bid of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. “It’s a marginal difference.”

“The most important thing is to meet the basics. And FIFA says that both bids more than do that. Now we have to convince colleagues that we are the best,” De Jong told NOS.

Earlier today it was announced that a FIFA evaluation committee has placed more positive marks on the Brazilian bid than on those of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In Brazil, the main advantages are the stadiums and the fact that a Women’s World Cup has never been organized in South America. The ‘all-round bid’ of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany must rely on the strong infrastructure and commercial position.

Brazil scores 4 points at FIFA, the Netherlands 3.7.

On May 17, the FIFA Congress in Bangkok will announce where the World Cup will take place. The congress consists of 211 members. Apart from the countries that have submitted a World Cup bid, every member may cast one vote.

I don’t know what Russia and Belarus are doing, but the other European votes must go to us. And I think we also have a majority in Asia and Africa.

“In practice, of the 500 points you could achieve, we achieved 373, and Brazil 395. That makes the difference slightly smaller,” says De Jong about the small deficit.

“It is a logical difference. Wages are lower in Brazil, so it is cheaper. The capacity of the stadiums is larger there. That is being looked at heavily. We want to do things in line with European legislation, which means that we have certain things that FIFA does not want to be able to record in contracts. These are differences that can be bridged.”

De Jong has spoken to many representatives from all unions. “You only know after the vote whether they have really chosen you, but we have just visited Oman, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. I may be wrong, but a majority of those countries go for us.”

“We are not allowed to vote ourselves and I don’t know what Russia and Belarus are doing, but the other European votes should go to us. And I think we also have a majority in Asia and Africa.”

According to De Jong, the plan of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium is more focused on the entire world, to promote the development of women’s football worldwide.

“The Brazilian bid is more focused on Brazil itself on the one hand and South America on the other, less on the rest of the world. There are 207 members who can vote. The majority are not participating in the World Cup, but do want to develop women’s football. “

About what could change with a World Cup in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany in 2027, De Jong says: “In the Netherlands itself, we will mainly focus on more Dutch referees, coaches and board members and grow the Premier League. There is a huge difference worldwide. where countries are. In some countries women’s football is not even on the map, you can help there.”

“In other countries, people especially want to inspire girls and women to play football, to show that it is also a women’s sport.”

According to De Jong, the World Cup can be a catalyst, including by inviting employees from associations around the world to participate in the tournament and deploying teams in different regions to inspire local players. Not until 2027, but immediately when it has been allocated.