2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)

2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA)

Tournament details
Dates	February – December 2026
Teams	53 (from 1 confederation)
Women's Nations League ← 2025 2027→ Women's World Cup qualifying ← 2023 2031→

The European qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup to determine the UEFA teams that will qualify directly for the final tournament and for the inter-confederation play-offs will take place from February to December 2026. ^[1]

Format

On 24 September 2024, UEFA approved the initial regulations and tentative match schedule for qualification. Following FIFA's confirmation of qualification slots, UEFA finalized the regulations for qualification which will occur over two phases: ^[2]

• League phase: The teams entering qualification will be divided into three leagues based on the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League overall phase ranking (Regulations Article 21): ^[2]
  • League A will consist of the teams ranked 1–16 to be drawn into four groups of four teams each.
  • League B will consist of the teams ranked 17–32 to be drawn into four groups of four teams each.
  • League C will consist of the remaining teams to be drawn into three groups of four teams each and three groups of three teams each; the number and sizes of groups may change based upon the number of teams entering qualification.

All groups will play a league format, playing all other teams at home and away (Regulations Article 22). ^[2] The League A group winners will qualify directly for the Women's World Cup, and two rounds of play-offs will determine the remaining direct qualification slots and the inter-confederation play-offs representatives (Regulations Articles 27.01–27.02). ^[2]

• Play-off phase: Teams will be drawn into paths to play two rounds of home-and-away knockout matches (Regulations Articles 27.03–27.08): ^[2]
  • Round 1:
    • Path 1 will consist of the runners-up and third-place teams from League A competing against the group winners and two best-ranked runners-up from League C. The League A teams will be seeded and will play the second leg at home.
    • Path 2 will consist of the fourth-place teams from League A and League B group winners competing against the runners-up and third-place teams from League B. The League A fourth-place teams and League B group winners will be seeded and play the second leg at home.
    • The winners of each two-legged tie will advance to Round 2.
  • Round 2: The round 1 path 1 winners will compete against the round 1 path 2 winners. The path 1 winners will be seeded and will play the second leg at home.

The seven round 2 winners with the best overall league-phase final rankings will qualify directly for the Women's World Cup, and the remaining round 2 winner will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Tiebreakers

During the league phase, teams will be ranked according to standings points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If teams are tied in standings points, tiebreaking criteria will be applied (Regulations Article 23): ^[2]

1. higher number of standings points obtained in matches among the tied teams;
2. greater goal difference obtained in matches among the tied teams;
3. greater number of goals scored in matches among the tied teams;
4. if teams remain tied, then criteria a–c are reapplied only to those teams that remain tied;

If teams still remain tied, then the following criteria are applied only to those teams that remain tied:

5. greater goal difference in all league phase matches;
6. greater number of goals scored in all league phase matches;
7. greater number of away goals scored in all league phase matches;
8. greater number of wins in all league phase matches;
9. greater number of away wins in all league phase matches;
10. lower total of disciplinary points obtained by players and team officials in all league phase matches:
    1. Yellow card: 1 point;
    2. Second yellow card/indirect red card: 3 points;
    3. Direct red card: 3 points;
11. higher position in the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League overall phase rankings

Schedule

The anticipated draw and match schedule is below. ^[1]

Stage	Round	Dates
League phase	Draw	4 November 2025 [A]
	Matchdays 1 & 2	26 February – 7 March 2026
	Matchdays 3 & 4	9–18 April 2026
	Matchdays 5 & 6	3–9 June 2026
Play-offs	Draw	22 June 2026 [A]
	Round 1	7–13 October 2026
	Round 2 draw	16 October 2026 [A] [B]
	Round 2	26 November – 5 December 2026

1. Date to be confirmed
2. If needed to prevent prohibited clashes

Entrants

Fifty-three nations are eligible to submit entries to compete in qualification. San Marino does not field a national women's team, and Russia were suspended indefinitely on 28 February 2022 from participating in UEFA and FIFA competitions due to their country's invasion of Ukraine ^[3] and were excluded by UEFA from the list of participants. ^[1]

League phase

Teams will play home-and-away matches against each other team in their group.

Draws

The league phase draws are scheduled take place on 4 November 2025, with the draw procedures yet to be announced.

The UEFA Executive Committee has voted to prohibit certain teams from facing off due to geopolitical conflicts, and other nations have draw conditions based on travel distance or extreme winter weather. Any applicable restrictions will be announced with the draw procedures and draw pot allocations.

League A

Main article: 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA League A

Group winners will qualify for the final tournament in Brazil. All other teams will advance to the play-off phase

Group A1

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		A1A	A1B	A1C	A1D
1	A1A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2027 FIFA Women's World Cup		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	A1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	A1C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	A1D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group A2

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		A2A	A2B	A2C	A2D
1	A2A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2027 FIFA Women's World Cup		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	A2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	A2C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	A2D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group A3

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		A3A	A3B	A3C	A3D
1	A3A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2027 FIFA Women's World Cup		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	A3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	A3C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	A3D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group A4

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		A4A	A4B	A4C	A4D
1	A4A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2027 FIFA Women's World Cup		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	A4B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	A4C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	A4D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

League B

Main article: 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA League B

Group winners, runners-up, and third-place teams will advance to the play-off phase.

Group B1

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		B1A	B1B	B1C	B1D
1	B1A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	B1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	B1C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	B1D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group B2

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		B2A	B2B	B2C	B2D
1	B2A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	B2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	B2C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	B2D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group B3

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		B3A	B3B	B3C	B3D
1	B3A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	B3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	B3C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	B3D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group B4

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		B4A	B4B	B4C	B4D
1	B4A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	B4B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	B4C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	B4D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

League C

Main article: 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA League C

Group winners and the two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the play-off phase.

Group C1

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		C1A	C1B	C1C	C1D
1	C1A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	C1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	C1C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	C1D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group C2

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		C2A	C2B	C2C	C2D
1	C2A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	C2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	C2C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	C2D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group C3

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		C3A	C3B	C3C	C3D
1	C3A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD	TBD
2	C3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD	TBD
3	C3C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—	TBD
4	C3D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group C4

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		C4A	C4B	C4C
1	C4A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD
2	C4B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD
3	C4C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group C5

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		C5A	C5B	C5C
1	C5A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD
2	C5B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD
3	C5C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Group C6

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		C6A	C6B	C6C
1	C6A	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase		—	TBD	TBD
2	C6B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Possible play-off phase		TBD	—	TBD
3	C6C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			TBD	TBD	—

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Ranking of runners-up

Pos	Grp	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	C1	C1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Play-off phase
2	C2	C2B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	C3	C3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	C4	C4B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	C5	C5B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	C6	C6B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

Overall league rankings

At the conclusion of the league phase, teams will be ranked according to the following criteria (Regulations Article 24.01): ^[2]

1. group position (i.e. all group winners will be ranked above all group runners-up in the same league, etc.);
2. higher number of standings points;
3. greater goal difference in all league matches;
4. greater number of goals scored in all league matches;
5. greater number of away goals scored in all league matches;
6. greater number of victories in all league matches;
7. greater number of away victories in all league matches;
8. lower total of disciplinary points obtained by players and team officials in all league phase matches:
   1. Yellow card: 1 point;
   2. Second yellow card/indirect red card: 3 points;
   3. Direct red card: 3 points;
9. higher position in the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League overall phase rankings

League A Pos Team v t e Pld Pts 1 A1A 0 0 2 A2A 0 0 3 A3A 0 0 4 A4A 0 0 5 A1B 0 0 6 A2B 0 0 7 A3B 0 0 8 A4B 0 0 9 A1C 0 0 10 A2C 0 0 11 A3C 0 0 12 A4C 0 0 13 A1D 0 0 14 A2D 0 0 15 A3D 0 0 16 A4D 0 0 First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

League B Pos Team v t e Pld Pts 17 B1A 0 0 18 B2A 0 0 19 B3A 0 0 20 B4A 0 0 21 B1B 0 0 22 B2B 0 0 23 B3B 0 0 24 B4B 0 0 25 B1C 0 0 26 B2C 0 0 27 B3C 0 0 28 B4C 0 0 29 B1D 0 0 30 B2D 0 0 31 B3D 0 0 32 B4D 0 0 First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

League C [α] Pos Team v t e Pld Pts 33 C1A 0 0 34 C2A 0 0 35 C3A 0 0 36 C4A 0 0 37 C5A 0 0 38 C6A 0 0 39 C1B 0 0 40 C2B 0 0 41 C3B 0 0 42 C4B 0 0 43 C5B 0 0 44 C6B 0 0 45 C1C 0 0 46 C2C 0 0 47 C3C 0 0 48 C4C 0 0 49 C5C 0 0 50 C6C 0 0 51 C1D 0 0 52 C2D 0 0 53 C3D 0 0 First match(es) will be played: February 2026. Source: UEFA

1. Due to differing group sizes in League C, matches against fourth-place teams are discounted when calculating the final rankings of the group winners, runners-up, and third-place teams.

Play-off phase

Main article: 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA play-offs

Draws

The draws for both play-off rounds are scheduled to take place on 22 June 2026, with draw procedures to be announced. If teams prohibited from facing each other could meet in the second round, the play-off round 2 draw would be scheduled to take place on 16 October. ^[1]

References

1. "2025 UEFA Women's Nations League and 2026 Women's European Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup" (ZIP). UEFA Circular Letter. No. 53/2024. UEFA. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
2. "Regulations of the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League and 2026 Women's European Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup". UEFA. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
3. "FIFA/UEFA suspend Russian clubs and national teams from all competitions". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2024.