UEFA has drawn out the groups for the European qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
It may seem unusual to have the two best European countries in the same group, but this reflects the structure of UEFA's qualification system.
The qualification format follows the Women’s Nations League, with teams divided into three leagues based on ranking.
League A features the top 16 teams, League B contains the following 16 teams, and League C consists of 21 lower-ranked teams.
League A and B teams are drawn into four groups of four, while League C teams are drawn into six groups of three and one group of four.
That means two teams from League A, England and Spain, in this case, will be in the same group as two teams from League B, e.g., Iceland and Ukraine.
Sarina Wiegman's side will face each team home and away between March and June 2026. Fans did not think they would see England vs. Spain anytime soon. They likely have not recovered in time for the Euro 2025 finals. The battle for the best continues: back-to-back European champions versus World Cup winners.
Iceland and Ukraine, although not among the top-ranked teams, have demonstrated their competitiveness and will provide critical tests during the qualifying campaign.
With this in mind, many fans in Spain are concerned as to how England could qualify. The generic route is to finish first in their group, but with Spain, it might not be possible.
If England finishes second or third in the group, they will enter the first round of the play-offs, known as Path 1. In this path, England would face a League C side over two legs, with the second leg at home. If they win, they would progress to round two of the play-offs, where they could face a fourth-placed League A side or a League B group winner.
If they win that too and become one of the seven best-ranked sides after round two, they qualify for the World Cup.
While the eighth team enters the inter-confederation play-offs in February 2027, this means facing teams outside of Europe.
If England finishes fourth in the group, they would enter Path 2, facing a League B group winner in the first round of play-offs.
Winners progress to the second round, with the same process determining qualification.
This pathway is more challenging because, in Path 1, you start with a League C country, a lower-ranked team, rather than a League B group winner, who is likely to be harder to beat than a League C country.
The playoff schedule is set, with Round 1 taking place between October 7 and 13, 2026.
Round two between November 26 and December 5, 2026.
The inter-confederation play-offs are scheduled to take place in February 2027.
The six qualifying matchdays for the group stage will be held from February 26 to March 7, April 9 to 18, and June 3 to 9, 2026.
England’s history against Ukraine and Iceland provides context for the upcoming qualifiers. England last faced Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier in 2014, winning the fixture. England’s last match against Iceland took place in a friendly in 2009.
With England vs. Spain confirmed, let's take a look at its recent relivery of the converted titles, badges, and trophies.
On February 20, 2022, England played Spain in the Arnold Clark Cup at Carrow Road, Norwich, in a closely contested match that ended 0‑0. Both sides had opportunities to score, but Spain’s disciplined defensive organisation prevented England from taking the lead.
Later that year, on July 20, 2022, the two teams met in the quarter-final of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. Spain initially took the lead through Esther González in the 54th minute. England responded with an equaliser from Ella Toone in the 84th minute, and then Georgia Stanway scored the decisive winner in the 96th minute, sending England through to the semi-finals.
The following year, on August 20, 2023, Spain and England met in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Sydney. Spain won 1‑0 thanks to Olga Carmona’s 29th-minute goal. Despite England goalkeeper Mary Earps saving a penalty, Spain maintained their lead to secure their first Women’s World Cup title.
The most recent meeting between the sides was in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final on July 27, 2025. Spain scored first through Mariona Caldentey in the 25th minute, before England equalised via Alessia Russo in the 57th minute. The match went to penalties, with England winning 3‑1 to retain their European title.
Other League A groups include Group A1, comprising Sweden, Italy, Denmark, and Serbia; Group A2, featuring France, the Netherlands, Poland, and the Republic of Ireland; and Group A4, consisting of Germany, Norway, Austria, and Slovenia. League B and C groups will also have their respective play-off opportunities, although the path to qualification is longer and more challenging.
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