England Women Face 2027 World Cup Play-Offs After Spain Defeat
England’s route to the 2027 Women’s World Cup now runs through the play-offs after Spain overturned the Lionesses’ early advantage in qualifying. Sarina Wiegman’s side had been on course for automatic passage to Brazil, but a 4-0 loss in Mallorca on June 5 — the heaviest defeat of her tenure — shifted control of the group to La Roja.
Spain swing the qualifying group
The Lionesses had opened the campaign with four consecutive wins, including a Wembley victory over Spain, and led the section with two matches remaining. A draw away to Spain would have been enough to secure the only automatic qualifying place.
Instead, Spain produced a decisive result in Mallorca, winning 4-0 to move above England. It was England’s largest defeat for 17 years and left their hopes dependent on Iceland taking points from Spain.
Iceland were unable to intervene, losing 6-1 to Spain. England’s own victory over Ukraine therefore did not alter the final outcome: Spain took direct qualification for the World Cup in Brazil, while England were sent into the knockout route.
A demanding path through the autumn
England will begin their play-off campaign against Greece, ranked 59th in the world. The October international window will host the two legs, which will be the first senior women’s internationals between the nations.
Should England progress, they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine in the final round. The Lionesses have recently beaten Ukraine twice, but the second play-off will still decide whether Wiegman’s European champions reach the 2027 finals. Those matches are scheduled across the late-November and early-December international break.
- England won their first four qualifying fixtures and defeated Spain at Wembley.
- Spain beat England 4-0 in Mallorca on June 5, taking top spot in the group.
- Spain’s 6-1 win over Iceland confirmed England could no longer finish first.
- England meet Greece over two legs in October, with Slovakia or Ukraine potentially awaiting in the final round.
- The World Cup draw is set for December 11 if England come through the play-offs.
European champions face a different test
The qualifying setback follows a successful 2025 for England, who retained the European Championship by defeating Spain on penalties in the final in Switzerland. Their route to the trophy had already tested their resilience: Sweden were beaten in a quarter-final shootout and Italy were overcome after extra time in the semi-final.
That final victory also gave England a measure of revenge for their defeat to Spain in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. Spain have now responded in qualifying, leaving the Lionesses with no margin for error over four play-off fixtures.
- Only group winners qualified automatically for the 2027 World Cup.
- England need to win two successive two-legged ties to reach Brazil.
- Greece are England’s first opponents in October.
- A final against Slovakia or Ukraine would follow at the end of November and start of December.
- Qualification would put England into the December 11 World Cup draw.
How England matches are shown
ITV holds the principal UK rights for England women’s fixtures, with matches generally placed on ITV1 or ITV4 and available through ITVX. Broadcast arrangements can differ when England play another home nation because the BBC holds rights for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; England’s visit to Scotland in Glasgow at the end of 2023, for example, was shown on BBC One.
In the United States, fuboTV is an option for England matches. FOX and FS1 have carried Women’s European Championship coverage, while ESPN has also shown selected Lionesses fixtures. Further details of England’s 2026 schedule are still to be confirmed.
