The 2027 Women’s World Cup will take place in Brazil from 24 June to 25 July, with 18 nations already guaranteed a place at the tournament and seven more set to compete in the intercontinental play-offs.
Cameroon, Malawi, Algeria and Morocco qualified from Africa after reaching the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, which served as the continent’s direct qualifying competition.
Cameroon won the tournament on Sunday evening in Rabat, beating Malawi 3-0. The result gave Cameroon their first Africa Cup of Nations title, while Malawi’s runners-up finish secured a place at their first Women’s World Cup.
Ghana and South Africa were awarded Africa’s two places in the intercontinental play-offs after winning matches between the teams eliminated in the quarter-finals. Ghana defeated Cote d’Ivoire 2-1, while South Africa produced a surprise by beating competition heavyweight Nigeria by the same score.
Those two nations will now enter a 10-team intercontinental play-off tournament, which will be held between October and December. Only three teams from that competition will qualify for the finals in Brazil.
Qualified from Africa: Algeria, Malawi, Cameroon and Morocco
Intercontinental play-offs: Ghana and South Africa
Europe’s qualification places decided through Nations League
European qualifying was based on the Nations League, with the four League A group winners – Germany, France, Denmark and Spain – qualifying automatically.
England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland still have a route to Brazil through the play-offs.
England face Greece in the first round and, if they progress, will meet either Ukraine or Slovakia. Wales, who have never qualified for a Women’s World Cup, play Albania before a possible second-round tie against Norway or Romania.
Scotland could face Sweden in the second round if they overcome Czechia. Republic of Ireland begin against Kazakhstan and could then play Belgium or Poland, while Northern Ireland face Portugal before a possible meeting with Iceland or Croatia.
The play-off matches are scheduled for October, with seeded teams playing the second leg at home. Second-round ties will be played in November and December.
The second-round draw is:
– Slovakia or Ukraine v Greece or England
– Finland or Serbia v Belarus or Italy
– Northern Ireland or Portugal v Croatia or Iceland
– Albania or Wales v Romania or Norway
– Israel or Switzerland v Kosovo or Austria
– Czechia or Scotland v Lithuania or Sweden
– Belgium or Poland v Kazakhstan or Republic of Ireland
– Turkiye or Slovenia v Hungary or Netherlands
Qualified from Europe: Germany, France, Denmark and Spain
Six Asian teams qualify
Australia, Japan, China, Korea DPR, Philippines and Korea Republic all qualified through the Women’s Asian Cup in March, which acted as Asia’s direct World Cup qualifying tournament.
Japan, Australia, China and Korea Republic won their quarter-finals, while Korea DPR and Philippines won their intercontinental play-off matches to claim the continent’s six places.
Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan, the two losing teams, will now enter the intercontinental play-offs in October.
Japan won the Asian Cup by beating Australia 1-0 in Sydney.
Qualified from Asia: Australia, Japan, China, Korea DPR, Philippines and Korea Republic
Intercontinental play-offs: Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan
Colombia and Argentina qualify in South America
CONMEBOL held an independent qualifying tournament for the first time, involving eight teams in a group phase.
Colombia and Argentina secured the two direct qualifying places by finishing first and second respectively. They will join hosts Brazil at next summer’s tournament.
Colombia, who surprised the football world by reaching the quarter-finals in 2023, collected 20 points from a possible 24. Venezuela and Ecuador finished third and fourth and will enter the intercontinental play-offs, which begin in October.
Qualified from South America: Colombia, Argentina and Brazil, the hosts
Intercontinental play-offs: Venezuela and Ecuador
New Zealand win Oceania’s only direct place
New Zealand secured Oceania’s sole automatic qualification place by beating Papua New Guinea, who will instead compete in the intercontinental play-offs.
The qualifying competition was a knockout tournament held in Cook Islands involving eight nations. The winners and runners-up from each group advanced to the knockout stage, but only the tournament winners gained an automatic place at the World Cup.
Qualified from Oceania: New Zealand
Intercontinental play-offs: Papua New Guinea
The confirmed list of qualifiers is:
– Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco
– Asia: Australia, China, Japan, Korea DPR, Philippines, Korea Republic
– Europe: Denmark, France, Germany, Spain
– Oceania: New Zealand
– South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia
The seven nations currently listed for the intercontinental play-offs are Ghana, South Africa, Ecuador, Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan.
