Lionesses to face Greece in FIFA Women's World Cup play-off

The Lionesses will play Greece in Round 1 of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 qualification play-offs, after the draw was made on Thursday 18 June.

Sarina Wiegman's team will compete for a place at next summer's tournament in the play-offs after finishing second in Group A3, with five wins from six matches in a group won by world champions Spain on goal difference.

They concluded the group in early June with a 3-0 home victory over Ukraine, after a 4-0 away defeat at Spain in the only time they dropped points.

There are two play-off rounds, with EURO 2025 winners England facing Greece in Round 1 over two legs between 7-13 October. As the seeded team due to their superior finish in the Group system, the Lionesses will get the home advantage on the second leg.

Greece finished first in League C4, winning all four matches against Faroe Islands and Georgia.

The Round 2 draw has been made. If the Lionesses progress, they will face Slovakia or Ukraine over two legs, and will again get home advantage in the second leg as the seeded team if they get through.

Sarina Wiegman's reaction

Head coach Wiegman says her players will be focused and well-prepared for the play-off matches. 

“We knew what the play-offs would look like and, while we’re pleased with the draw against Greece, the focus now is on making sure we’re really well prepared," Wiegman says.

“We want to dominate games and have a lot of the ball, and that’s something we will prepare for carefully. There’s still time, with players on holiday and then returning to their clubs, but we’re looking forward to coming together again, getting ready and performing with England.”

How the play-offs work

Greece were one of eight unseeded teams in Path 1 of Round 1 in the play-offs,

England are in Path 1 in Round 1 of the play-offs, 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.

Should the Lionesses prevail in Round 1 of the play-offs, they will face the winning team out of the Path 2, Round 1 tie between Slovakia and Ukraine.

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