Reigning European champions England are preparing to begin their qualification campaign for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as the next international cycle in women’s football gets underway across Europe.
The Lionesses enter the campaign with high expectations after establishing themselves as one of the strongest national teams in the world in recent years.
Their triumph at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 marked a historic moment for the team and significantly boosted the visibility of women’s football in England.
Now the focus shifts to the next global tournament — the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
England drawn with Spain, Ukraine and Iceland
England have been placed in a challenging qualification group alongside Spain, Ukraine and Iceland.
The group immediately stands out as one of the most competitive in the European qualifiers, largely due to the presence of Spain, the current world champions.
Matches between England and Spain are expected to be among the most anticipated fixtures of the qualification campaign and could ultimately determine who finishes at the top of the group.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Iceland remain dangerous opponents capable of making the group unpredictable, particularly in away fixtures.
For England, securing first place would mean direct qualification to the World Cup, making every match in the group stage extremely important.
How European qualification works
European qualification is organised by UEFA and follows a league-based structure similar to the Women’s Nations League.
Teams are divided into three leagues:
- League A — 16 teams
- League B — 16 teams
- League C — 21 teams
Within each league, teams compete in home-and-away group matches.
The four League A group winners qualify directly for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Other teams will advance to playoff rounds, where the remaining European spots at the tournament will be decided.
The road to Brazil
The 2027 Women’s World Cup will be a historic edition of the tournament as it will be the first time the competition is hosted in South America, with Brazil welcoming the world’s best national teams.
For England, the upcoming qualification campaign represents the next major step in their ambition to remain among the dominant forces in international women’s football.
With the Lionesses entering the competition as reigning European champions, expectations will be high as they begin their journey toward Brazil.
