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UEFA Draw Pits Spain With England as European Path to 2027 Women’s World Cup Is Set

Only League A group winners qualify directly under the Nations League-style format, with the rest routed into two playoff rounds in late 2026.

Overview

  • World champions Spain and European champions England were drawn together in League A Group A3, with Iceland and Ukraine completing the section.
  • The Republic of Ireland landed in League A Group A2 with France, the Netherlands and Poland, entering qualifying already assured of at least a playoff place after their win over Belgium.
  • League-phase matchdays run February 26–March 7, April 9–18 and June 3–9, 2026, before two-legged European playoffs in October and November 26–December 5, 2026.
  • VAR will not operate during the group stage but will be used in the playoff rounds, and fourth-placed League A teams face relegation to League B for the next cycle.
  • UEFA has 11 direct berths for Brazil 2027, with seven decided via the playoffs and one additional European team able to reach the finals through the February 2027 inter-confederation playoffs.