The road to the 2027 Women’s World Cup looks more complicated than ever for the England Women’s National Football Team. The Lions failed to qualify directly and now have to go through the European play-off system, starting with a two-legged game against Greece. The final destination is Brazil, which will host the 10th Women’s World Cup from June 24 to July 25, 2027, with 32 teams playing in eight cities.
All eight Brazilian stadiums used for the tournament hosted matches during the 2014 Men’s World Cup. The 2027 edition will be played over 64 matches, with both the opening and final matches at the Maracana Stadium. Spain are the reigning champions after winning the previous World Cup in 2023, beating England 1-0 in the final.
Selections also attract a wider digital audience. OneFootball’s Sportsbook also follows the Women’s World Cup qualifiers, providing betting information for adult users. Commercial platforms around sports may additionally offer tournaments, celebratory events, daily prizes and limited-time promotions. These services remain separate from the sports competition itself and none determine how England’s play-offs will develop.
Brazil 2027 at a glance
Brazil will go down in history as the first country in South America to host the Women’s World Cup. The six Brazilian cities where the matches will be held are Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo. Each of these cities will host at least seven matches, with Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo part of the competition until the semi-final stage.
Coverage of England’s qualifying campaign will inevitably compete for attention with Premier League News, but the Lions now face one of their most important international windows under Wiegman. Unlike recent major tournaments, there is no guaranteed spot waiting for them. Brazil need two successful playoff runs to become part of their schedule.
How England made the play-offs
Second after Spain in terms of goal difference
They have won just five of six attempts in England’s A3 League. The only blemish came against Spain, which proved costly when it came to automatic qualification.
In the A League, only four winners qualified automatically, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain. That leaves the rest of Europe in the playoffs.
As for the qualification process, direct qualification for the World Cup from UEFA is 11 places and another European team will play in the intercontinental play-off.
So England had to depend on luck to qualify after a great tournament.
Greece, then Slovakia or Ukraine
England’s first opponents in the play-offs will be Greece, a team they have never played at senior level before. The first leg will be played in Greece on October 9, 2026, with England playing the second leg at home on October 13, 2026. No matches have been played so far.
A win in both matches would still put England one step away from qualification. The winner will then face either Slovakia or Ukraine in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
The final matches will take place between March 26 and April 5, 2026. The team that qualified through Slovakia or Ukraine will play Greece or England in the first match.
There is no room for complacency in this qualification structure. The Lions may have more experience at major tournaments than Greece, but a result in four matches is a must and won’t be enough on its own.
Candidates stayed for one year
England’s route must also be considered within the competitive global landscape. Spain remains the benchmark after winning the 2023 World Cup and securing direct European qualification for 2027.
ESPN’s one-year assessment put Spain first among the leading candidates, followed by Germany and Japan. Host Brazil finished fourth, while Korea DPR completed the top five. The ranking highlights how the balance of women’s international football has transcended traditional European powers.
Brazil also carries the added importance of home advantage. The tournament will be the first Women’s World Cup held in South America and will provide an opportunity to expand the visibility of the women’s game across the continent. FIFA chose the eight host cities in part with the aim of supporting its long-term growth in Brazil.
For now, the priority for England is securing World Cup qualification rather than preparing for potential opponents. After finishing as runners-up in 2023, the Lionesses have won back-to-back girls’ under-19 championships, adding to their overall experience of the knockout matches. UEFA notes that England were World Cup finalists that year and also won the last two women’s EURO tournaments.
If Wiegman’s team can reach Brazil, they have a chance to win their first major title. Their journey begins in Greece. After that, they can face Slovakia or Ukraine.