This Friday, England can guarantee their passport to the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, simply by avoiding defeat against Spain (8 p.m.), in Mallorca, in the penultimate qualifying game of Group A3 of League A. The European champions arrive with four wins in four games, after having beaten Iceland and Spain in April, and lead the group with a three-point advantage. In the event of a win or a draw, they will become the first British team to qualify, pushing world champion Spain towards the play-offs. The 2027 World Cup will be played in Brazil between June 24 and July 25, with 32 teams, in eight stadiums used in the 2014 Men's World Cup.
Republic of Ireland still depends on you. The Republic of Ireland is third in its group, but keeps its destiny in its own hands: it faces the Netherlands in Cork this Friday (7:30 pm) and then visits France on Tuesday (8:00 pm). If they win both games, they guarantee their presence in the World Cup — only the second in their history — regardless of other results.
League B: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland eyeing the play-offs. As Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compete in League B, the best they can aspire to is the play-offs, finishing in the top three. Scotland and Wales have already secured that place with two rounds to play. The Scots lead ahead of a doubleheader with Israel (Friday, 5pm; Tuesday, 6pm). Wales are second, by goal difference, behind the Czech Republic, who visit on Tuesday (6pm), after playing in Montenegro on Friday (5pm). Northern Ireland, on the other hand, needs a point from the last two games — Turkey (away, Friday, 6pm) and Switzerland (home, Tuesday, 6pm) — to seal qualification for the play-offs. Whoever reaches the play-offs will still have to overcome two rounds in the autumn to win a ticket to Brazil.
League A: Denmark and Germany ahead. In League A, Denmark and Germany are the favorites to win the two groups still open and guarantee direct qualification. Denmark leads the A1, with a point advantage over Sweden and three over Italy, with two rounds to go. If they beat Sweden this Friday (7:15 p.m.) and Italy do not score three points against Serbia (7 p.m.), the Danes will secure their second consecutive World Cup appearance. A Swedish triumph, however, would put Sweden on top before the final round. In A4, Germany can maintain its tradition of being present in every World Cup if it beats Norway in a true decider duel this Friday (7:35 pm). The two-time world champions have one more point than Norway. The following Tuesday, Germany visits Slovenia, while Norway hosts Austria (6pm).
Who is already at the 2027 World Cup. Eight teams have already secured a place in Brazil: hosts Brazil, as well as Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and the Philippines — all qualified through the Women's Asian Cup — and New Zealand, the notable winner of the Oceania qualification.