The road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil is fraught with challenge for the UK’s home nations, all of whom must navigate a two-round play-off system following the conclusion of European qualifying. The tenth edition of the tournament is set to take place from June 24 to July 25, 2027.
England, currently reigning European champions, enter the fray with high expectations but remain in second place in their qualifying group behind world champions Spain, who secured the continent’s sole automatic berth. Head coach Sarina Wiegman acknowledged the difficulty of their situation, noting that while the draw against Greece was favorable, her primary focus remains on preparation.
England’s play-off journey begins on Friday, October 9, when they travel to Crete to face Greece at 17:30 BST. The return leg is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, at the King Power Stadium in Leicester at 19:30 BST. If victorious against Greece, the Lionesses would advance to a potential semi-final clash against the winner of the Slovakia versus Ukraine tie. Those matches are expected to be played between November 26 and December 5, 2026, though exact dates are yet to be finalized.
Wiegman recently addressed significant squad omissions, confirming that Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly were left out of the initial roster due to a lack of recent performance matching their capabilities. She emphasized that she still believes in both players but cited ongoing conversations about their need to improve their form.
Elsewhere in the play-offs, the other three UK nations begin their campaigns this Friday. Wales will host Albania at 17:00 BST, seeking to build on a dominant 4-0 qualifying victory over the same side. Scotland faces the Czech Republic at 18:00 BST, aiming to reach their second World Cup since 2019. Northern Ireland takes on a tough test against Portugal at 19:00 BST, having lost twice to the Portuguese in Euro 2025 qualifying.
The Republic of Ireland also competes in the play-offs, starting with a demanding 3,100-mile trip to Kazakhstan at 12:00 BST. They face a potentially arduous path if they advance, with Belgium looming as a possible round-two opponent.
Analysis suggests England holds the strongest position among the home nations, with Greece ranked 55 places below them in the FIFA world rankings. England also previously defeated Ukraine by an aggregate score of 9-1 during the group stage. For Scotland, success would require replicating their strong performances against top-tier teams like Belgium. Wales, however, face a historic hurdle, as they have yet to defeat a top-20 nation in competitive play—a feat likely necessary for qualification. Northern Ireland’s prospects dim further if they progress to face resilient sides such as Iceland.
Hard to see Wales breaking through without beating a top-20 side. That 4-0 win was nice, but the next test is far tougher.
Greece is a huge advantage for England. If they breeze through, that semi-final against Slovakia or Ukraine looks very winnable.