United States manager Emma Hayes said she had “an experience I will never forget” after her side’s bad-tempered 1-0 win over Brazil in Fortaleza saw the home team handed eight red cards. Brazil head coach Arthur Elias and three members of his staff were dismissed towards the end of the second half before police in riot gear surrounded the match officials on the pitch at full-time after further flashpoints. In front of a crowd of 55,744, forward Bia Zaneratto was sent off in added time for a second yellow card before teammate Tarciane was ordered off for elbowing US forward Sophia Wilson.

In 364 days, the 10th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup will kick off in Brazil. The significance of the tournament, however, extends far beyond a date on the calendar. As the first Women’s World Cup staged in South America, Brazil 2027 represents a rare opportunity to accelerate the growth of the women’s game across an entire region. It also raises a larger question: Can a World Cup hosted in a football-obsessed nation do for women’s soccer in Latin America what the 1999 tournament did for