FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027: England meet Greece in the play-off semi-finals

European champions England’s path to the 2027 Women’s World Cup goes via Greece and then via Slovakia or Ukraine in the two-match qualifying play-offs to be drawn on Thursday.

England were defeated finalists at the 2023 World Cup and met defending champions Spain again in the qualifying groups that ended this month.

Spain joined Denmark, France and Germany in direct qualification for the 2027 finals tournament in Brazil, leaving 32 teams in Thursday’s play-offs draw that will decide another seven places.

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Europe has 11 places in next year’s 32-team final tournament, and the eight play-offs completed in December will reward the seven highest-ranked teams with participation in the World Cup. The winner of the eighth bracket will go to the intercontinental play-offs in February.

Sweden eliminated the United States, the two-time defending champions, from the 2023 World Cup before losing to Spain in the semi-finals, and opens these play-offs against Lithuania. The winner will face the Czech Republic or Scotland.

Italy, who suffered a heavy defeat to England in the semi-finals of the 2025 European Championship, will face Belarus, with the winner advancing to Finland or Serbia.

The first round matches will be in October and the second round in November and December.

Italy and Belarus had to be moved down the draw after initially being paired with the winner of Slovakia vs. Ukraine. UEFA has blocked potential matches between teams from Ukraine and Russian military ally Belarus since the war began in February 2022.

UEFA also requires Belarus to play home games in empty stadiums in neutral countries, and the team’s qualifying group matches were hosted by Georgia.

Israeli teams have also played in neutral countries since October 2023, when the conflict with Hamas in Gaza began. Israel played qualifying matches in Hungary, and then hosts Switzerland for the first leg in their category. The winner will advance to Kosovo or Austria.

Published on June 18, 2026