England have been drawn against Greece in the first round of the European play-offs for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, giving Sarina Wiegman’s side a clear but still two-step route toward Brazil.
The draw, confirmed on Thursday, also set the play-off paths for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The ties matter because Europe’s remaining World Cup places will be decided through two-legged knockout rounds, with the first round scheduled for October and the second round following later in the year.
England get Greece, then Slovakia or Ukraine
England will start away to Greece in round one. If the Lionesses come through that tie, they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine in round two for a place at the finals. BBC Sport reported that Wiegman welcomed the clarity of the draw but stressed preparation, saying England want to dominate games and use the ball well.
The draw is favourable on paper because England avoided several higher-ranked European opponents in the opening stage. That does not make the route automatic. Two-legged play-offs often reward discipline as much as quality, and England’s main task will be to turn their status as favourites into controlled performances across both legs.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland face tougher routes
Scotland have been paired with Czechia in round one. The winner of that tie is scheduled to meet either Lithuania or Sweden in round two. That potential Sweden match is the obvious danger in Scotland’s path, with Sweden carrying significant recent World Cup pedigree.
Wales will face Albania in the first round. If Wales advance, the next assignment will be against Romania or Norway. That route gives Wales a realistic first hurdle but a potentially demanding final obstacle, particularly if Norway progress.
Northern Ireland were drawn against Portugal. Their reward for winning would be a second-round tie against Croatia or Iceland. It is a difficult path, but it also gives Northern Ireland a clearly defined route to a first Women’s World Cup appearance.
Republic of Ireland start against Kazakhstan
The Republic of Ireland will play Kazakhstan in round one. If they progress, they will meet either Belgium or Poland in round two. The first tie brings a long away trip and unfamiliar opposition; the second could bring a more established European test.
The Guardian’s draw summary lists the round-two pairing as Belgium or Poland against Kazakhstan or Republic of Ireland, while Sky Sports’ full draw confirms the same structure. That means Ireland know both the immediate challenge and the likely level required to finish the job.
When are the play-offs?
Sky Sports lists play-off round one for October 7-13, 2026, with round two scheduled from November 26 to December 5, 2026. The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is due to be staged in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027.
The format keeps the stakes high: teams must survive the first two-legged tie, then win again in round two. According to Sky Sports, the seven best-ranked winners from round two will qualify directly, while the remaining winner will still need to go through an inter-confederation play-off.
Why this draw matters
For England, the draw creates expectation. Anything short of qualification would be a major disappointment for a squad that reached the 2023 final. For Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the draw sets up a mix of opportunity and jeopardy, with each side now able to plan for specific opponents rather than a vague qualification picture.
The immediate football will not arrive until October, but the story starts now: managers can scout opponents, federations can prepare travel, and supporters can map the route to Brazil.
Sources
- UEFA.com: Women’s European Qualifiers play-off draw
- Sky Sports: Women’s World Cup play-off draw
- BBC Sport: Lionesses will face Greece in World Cup play-offs
- The Guardian: Women’s World Cup playoffs draw
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