Spain beats Ukraine and boosts hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup

Edna Imade scored two goals as Spain crushed Ukraine 5-0 to move provisionally level with England at the top of qualifying group A3 for the 2027 Women’s World Cup on Saturday.

Only the top team will automatically advance to the tournament in Brazil next year, and European champions England beat Spain 1-0 at Wembley on Tuesday to claim an early lead.

With a perfect record of three wins from three, England face Iceland later on Saturday in Reykjavik, hoping to pull away from Spain.

Spain, which won the last World Cup in 2023, made it easy to increase the goal difference in sunny Cordoba in Ukraine.

Sonia Bermudez’s team immediately roared into the lead through Bayern Munich striker Imade. She headed in a beautiful header from Lucia Corrales’ cross before 90 seconds had elapsed.

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Spain were left without injured three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, but her Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas ran the show from midfield.

The visitor almost leveled the score before half-time when Olha Ovdiychuk hit the post.

Spain’s second goal was a carbon copy of the first: Corrales passed from the left and Imade nodded home just over a minute into the second half.

Salma Paralluelo hit the post before Maria Mendez headed home the third from a cross from Barcelona teenager Vicky Lopez.

Eva Navarro scored Spain’s fourth with a deflected effort from the edge of the area, and Lopez showed neat footwork before tapping in the fifth.

Spain host England in Mallorca on June 5, a match they are likely to have to win if they want to qualify directly and avoid the play-offs.

Published on April 18, 2026