European qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, set to take place in Brazil, will kick off in February 2025 and run until December 2026, with teams competing across three leagues.
The new qualifying format mirrors the UEFA Nations League, dividing teams into three tiers such as League A:16 teams, League B: 16 teams and League C, having 21 teams.
Each league consists of four groups, with nations playing six matches — three home and three away. The winners of each League A group will automatically qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
In League A, England have been drawn alongside Spain, Iceland, and Ukraine. The Lionesses will be looking to avenge their 2023 World Cup final defeat to Spain, whom they later beat in the Euro 2025 final.
Also in League A, the Republic of Ireland will take on France, the Netherlands, and Poland, while Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland will compete in League B.
Wales face Czech Republic, Albania, and Montenegro; Scotland will play Belgium, Israel, and Luxembourg; and Northern Ireland have been drawn against Switzerland, Turkey, and Malta.
The qualifiers all promise intense competition as European nations battle for limited automatic World Cup spots and a place on football’s biggest stage.
