The draw for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup European Qualifiers took place today, November 4th, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, setting the stage for a challenging road to Brazil for England and other European nations. The draw, which was streamed live on UEFA.com, determines the composition of three leagues (A, B, and C) and ultimately decides which teams will vie for the coveted spots in the 2027 World Cup.
England, as one of the top-ranked teams, was placed in League A, the highest tier, which includes 16 teams divided into four pots. The placement in League A was earned from the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League. A difficult draw could see England facing a "nightmare group" including top-tier teams from Pot 1 such as World champions Spain or Germany, alongside strong contenders from Pot 3 like Denmark.
The qualifying process is integrated with the UEFA Women's Nations League format, where teams compete in groups within their respective leagues. The teams will participate in matches between February and June 2026. The stakes are high, as the four League A group winners will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
For teams that don't secure direct qualification, there's a second chance through a play-off system. Seven more direct spots and one spot in the inter-confederation play-offs are up for grabs in the play-offs. The play-offs will occur in two rounds during October and November/December 2026. Round 1 splits into two paths. Path 1 pits the second and third-placed teams from League A against the group winners and best runners-up from League C. Path 2 sees the fourth-placed teams from League A and the group winners from League B clash with the second and third-placed teams from League B.
The draw also determined promotion and relegation between the leagues, adding another layer of competition. The bottom teams in Leagues A and B will be relegated to lower leagues.
The Republic of Ireland also participated in the draw, finding themselves in League A. As a promoted team, Ireland was placed in Pot 4 and avoided being drawn with Ukraine, Slovenia, or Serbia. A challenging draw for Ireland could include Spain and England from Pot 1 and 2 respectively, and Denmark from Pot 3. A more favorable outcome could see them grouped with France, Italy, and Poland.
The fixtures, venues, and ticket details will be announced later. The 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup promises intense competition as teams battle for a place on the world stage.
