You would have to go back nearly 25 years to the last time the lionesses failed to top their World Cup qualifying group. But with the introduction of the Nations League, playing off against teams of a high standard, and UEFA placing the European and world champions in the same group, it is not surprising.
England will now compete in the play-offs despite a strong campaign, winning 15 points and losing only once, with goal difference alone separating them from Spain in the end. They will go through two rounds of home-and-away knockout ties to secure a place in next year's tournament, rather than taking part in international friendlies.
They lost out after a 4-0 defeat to Spain in Mallorca, with both teams ending with 15 points, but there was only one automatic spot, and Spain had a better goal difference.
Their first round will be against Greece. Then, if they progress, the second round will be against either Slovakia or Ukraine, both of which were in the qualifying group. If they win both ties, they qualify directly for Brazil.
This will be the first time Greece and England have played each other. Greece enters the tie having won all four of their qualifying matches but from a significantly lower league group in the Nations League. They are therefore significantly lower-ranked than England, having limited experience at major international tournaments or against stronger teams. Meaning England are strong favourites on paper.
If England beats Greece, they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine in round two. They already faced Ukraine in the qualifying stage; they are the stronger of the two possible teams on paper. They beat them 6-1 and 3-0. However, Ukraine will not have home advantage, as their home game will be played at a neutral venue due to the ongoing conflict. Slovakia, meanwhile, finished lower in their League B group and struggled for results, making Ukraine the more likely opponent.
Even so, Round 2 is expected to be significantly more competitive than the opening tie.
The European play-offs include 32 countries divided into two paths, with seeded teams like England and unseeded sides. There are seven direct qualifier spots, and one team may still need to enter inter-conference play-offs.
- Round 1: 7–13 October 2026
- Round 2: 26 November – 5 December 2026
- Inter-confederation play-offs: February 2027
England manager Sarina Wiegman has stressed that preparation will be key, highlighting the need to control possession and dominate matches while ensuring the squad is ready despite players being on club duty or holiday before regrouping.
Former England international Anita Asante believes England remain among the tournament favourites, citing their leadership group, experience in major tournaments, and consistent performance in recent years.
England has arguably received a favourable draw compared to other seeded nations, avoiding some of the strongest teams such as Belgium, Switzerland, and Sweden in their immediate path.
However, the knockout format leaves no margin for error, and while England are clear favourites, they must still navigate two high-pressure ties to reach the 2027 World Cup.
Add comment
Comments