QB weekly: 12. 10. - 18. 10. 2026

Another turbulent week in women's football. Some European teams have moved one step closer to qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup, while others have seen their hopes of reaching Brazil slip away. Barcelona Femení suffered another defeat to Real Sociedad, just as they did last season, while Arsenal's struggles continue. And there have been changes in the Women's Champions League commentary team, too.

What did the qualifiers show us?

Some teams, including England, the Netherlands and Sweden, lived up to their status as favourites and comfortably saw off their opponents. Alessia Russo was named Player of the Match in both games, while Sweden's Felicia Schröder added another two goals to the hat-trick she scored last week.

Not every tie was quite so straightforward, though. The Czechia, for example, caught Scotland off guard with two quick goals, leaving just one goal between the sides at half-time. But Scotland stepped up after the break and ultimately ended the Czechs' hopes of reaching the Women's World Cup. Perhaps the most dramatic encounter was between Poland and Belgium, with Poland eventually coming out on top after a penalty shootout.

Barcelona lost to Real Sociedad...again

Real Sociedad stunned Barcelona Femení with a 2:1 victory in Liga F, beating the Spanish champions at home for the second consecutive season. While last year's win came courtesy of a penalty by Edna Imade, this time the Basque side scored twice from open play to claim all three points. Barcelona had taken an early lead thanks to Patri Guijarro, but Real Sociedad fought back to secure another rare defeat for a team that has become so accustomed to dominating Spanish football.

Sad story from Damallsvenskan

Swedish Damallsvenskan side IK Uppsala have announced that the club will cease operations at the end of the 2026 season, citing long-standing financial and organisational difficulties. Founded just ten years ago, the club has struggled to keep up with the rising costs of elite football, with commercial revenue failing to cover its expenses. The decision affects not only the senior team but also the club's youth sides, leaving players facing an uncertain future. Uppsala also pointed to the growing financial gap between independent women's clubs and teams backed by established men's football organisations. Their closure raises a wider question about the sustainability of women's football in Sweden, even as the sport continues to grow.

Alex Scott steps down from Disney+ Women's Champions League coverage

The legend of women's football Alex Scott has stepped down from her role as a presenter of Disney+'s Women's Champions League coverage, just weeks after the broadcaster faced criticism over its opening-round production. According to The Guardian, the decision was Scott's own, as she plans to focus on her other projects, including her new women's football show, One More Word WSL.

The FIFA U17 Women's World Cup is underway

The FIFA U17 Women's World Cup has kicked off in Morocco, with QueenBallers bringing you extensive coverage throughout the tournament. Defending champions North Korea and hosts Morocco both opened their campaigns with dominant victories, while France and Norway also enjoyed strong starts. Spain, fresh from their recent U20 Women's World Cup triumph, are among the teams starting their U17 campaign today, hoping to add another youth world title to their collection.