World Cup qualification play-offs for Lionesses explained

Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses go into the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 qualification play-offs, despite winning five of their six group matches, to compete for a place at next summer’s tournament in Brazil.

They learned on Thursday 18 June that they will face Greece over two legs in Round 1, and should they prevail, they will face the winners of Slovakia's tie against Ukraine in Round 2 of the play-offs.

The Lionesses’ 4-0 defeat to Spain in their penultimate match of Group A3 meant their hosts leapfrogged them in the table via a superior head-to-head record and goal difference. England finished the campaign with a 3-0 home victory against Ukraine, while Spain confirmed top spot with a 6-1 win against Iceland .

England finished in second place to earn a place as a seeded team in the play-offs, above Iceland (six points) and Ukraine (zero points).

Here is how the play-offs will work.

How does FIFA Women's World Cup qualification work?

UEFA has been allocated eleven places in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027. One additional team may qualify through FIFA's intercontinental play-offs.
 
The four winners from the qualifying groups in League A secured direct qualification for the World Cup, including Spain.

Qualification and seeding for the European play-offs for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup

Round 1
 
Round 1 of the play-offs will take place over two legs in October, and it's split into two paths. England are in Path 1, where the four second-placed teams in League A and four third-placed teams of League A will play against the six first-places teams and two best-ranked second-placed teams of League C.
   
Path 2 in Round 1 of the play-offs sees the four fourth-placed teams of League A and four first-placed teams of League B playing against the four second-placed teams and four third-placed teams of League B.
 
Round 2
 
In Round 2 of the play-offs, the winners of the Path 1 ties will be seeded and play against the winners of the Path 2 ties. So England would be seeded if they advance to this stage. The potential ties, again over two legs (home and away), will be identified in next Thursday's draw.

England would have home advantage in the second leg in both stages of the play-offs if they progress.

The seven best-ranked Round 2 play-off winners according to the 2026 European Qualifiers overall league rankings, which would include the Lionesses, will qualify directly for the World Cup. The one remaining Round 2 play-off winner will qualify for the World Cup intercontinental play-offs.
   
The key play-off dates

UEFA play-off round 1 (2 legs): 7–13 October 2026
UEFA play-off round 2 (2 legs): 26 November–5 December 2026