European qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 kicks off in early 2026, featuring a three-league format (League A, B, C) with group winners securing automatic spots and complex play-offs deciding the remaining places. Old rivals meet again - England in League A will face Spain.
- Qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins in February 2026 and runs through December 2026 across Europe.
- European teams are organised into three tiers — League A with 16 teams, League B with 16 teams and League C with 21 teams — playing in a format similar to the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
- In League A, the four group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup. The remaining European spots (7 direct + 1 via inter-confederation play-offs) will be decided via two rounds of play-offs in October and November/December 2026.
- For example: in League A, Group A3 comprises England women's national football team, Spain women's national football team, Iceland women's national football team and Ukraine women's national football team.
- Match-days for the league phase are scheduled as follows: Matchday 1 — 3 March 2026; Matchday 2 — 7 March; Matchday 3 — 14 April; Matchday 4 — 18 April; Matchday 5 — 5 June; Matchday 6 — 9 June.
- The qualifying structure also ties into promotion and relegation for the next Nations League cycle: e.g., League B winners and third-place teams advance to play-offs; League C winners and best runners-up advance to play-offs and earn promotion.
- Sweden will face Denmark again. The teams already met in the Nations League and in the group stage at Euro 2025.
Groups:
A1:
A2:
- France
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Republic of Ireland
A3:
- Spain
- England
- Iceland
- Ukraine
A4:
- Germany
- Norway
- Austria
- Slovenia
