Women's World Cup 2027: How home nations can qualify via play-offs
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are all fighting for a spot at the 2027 Women's World Cup through the play-offs.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Author: James Boyes from UK
England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are all embarking on a challenging journey through the play-offs as they chase qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
For England, managed by Sarina Wiegman, the path involves two rounds of home-and-away ties. They begin their campaign against Greece, with the first leg in Crete and the return fixture at Leicester's King Power Stadium. Should they advance, they will face the winner of the Slovakia vs Ukraine tie.
Wiegman recently named her squad, omitting Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly. The head coach cited a lack of performance at their full potential in recent weeks, though she maintained that she still believes in the quality of both players. Wiegman noted that the conversations about their exclusion were difficult but constructive.
Other home nations and the Republic of Ireland begin their play-off action on Friday. Wales face Albania, Scotland take on the Czech Republic, Northern Ireland meet Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland travel to face Kazakhstan. Each team faces a unique set of challenges, with some looking to reach their first major tournament in years or improve upon previous qualifying cycles.