Brazil Enacts Landmark Law Prioritizing Women's Football Ahead of 2027 FIFA World Cup
Brazil enacts a landmark law prioritizing and professionalizing women's football, establishing equality measures and a legacy plan for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
- • President Lula sancioned Law 15.522 making women's football a national sports priority.
- • The law mandates clubs to maintain women's teams alongside men's, promoting professionalization.
- • Ministry of Sports and CBF tasked with combating discrimination and violence against women in football.
- • A legacy plan for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup aims to expand participation and sustain women's football.
Key details
On September 28, 2026, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned a groundbreaking law establishing women's football as a national sports priority. This legislation sets permanent directives aimed at promoting equality, professionalization, and combating discrimination within Brazilian women's football as the country prepares to host the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Known as Law 15.522, the new framework mandates sports organizations to maintain women's teams alongside men's teams, effective within 180 days of enactment. It modifies the Lei das Sociedades Anônimas do Futebol (SAF), requiring football clubs to field both male and female athletes. The law aims to gradually professionalize women's football by limiting the number of non-professional athletes allowed in competitions.
The Ministry of Sports is charged with fostering conditions for the development of women's football at all levels. This includes stimulating female participation, supporting competitions for all age groups, and collaborating with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), clubs, and federations to create protocols combating racism, violence, and discrimination against women in football.
The law also addresses health protections for female athletes, including maternity rights, and emphasizes the promotion of equal pay and increased female representation in management and coaching roles. It requires programs that prevent violence toward women in sports and mandates that certification of sporting entities depend on maintaining women's teams.
A notable provision establishes a plan for the legacy of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, aiming to leverage the tournament’s impact by increasing female participation and ensuring economic sustainability for women's football in Brazil.
Historically, women's football was banned in Brazil from 1941 until 1979, but recent growth is evident with clubs like Corinthians achieving six Copa Libertadores titles. President Lula highlighted that this law aligns women's football with men's rights, fostering a fairer and more inclusive sporting environment.
As the world’s spotlight prepares to turn to Brazil in 2027 for the expanded 32-team Women's World Cup, this legislation cements a permanent commitment to advancing women’s football on and off the pitch.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (5)
Source comparison
Publication date of the law
Sources report different publication dates for the law.
noticias.uol.com.br
"the law was published on September 28"
www12.senado.leg.br
"Published in the Diário Oficial da União on September 29"
Why this matters: One source states the law was published on September 28, while another claims it was published on September 29. This discrepancy could lead to confusion about the timeline of the law's enactment.