Road to the Women's World Cup 2027: How the Home Nations Are Faring in Play-offs
England's hope of reaching the 2027 Women's World Cup got a significant boost with a 3-1 victory over Greece in their first play-off match. Scorers Georgia Stanway, Maya le Tissier, and Alessia Russo put the Lionesses in a commanding position ahead of the second leg.
The decisive match will take place at King Power Stadium in Leicester on Tuesday, October 13, at 19:30 BST, with commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live. If England can maintain their aggregate lead, they'll advance to face the winner of the Slovakia vs. Ukraine tie, with details for those matches to be confirmed for late November to early December 2026.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman had made some tough calls in her squad selection, leaving out notable players Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly initially. After Lucy Bronze's injury led to Toone's late call-up, Wiegman explained, "They have not been playing to their full potential. Of course, I still believe in these players. They are really good and have shown so much for us."
Meanwhile, England’s fellow home nations are also in the mix for World Cup spots. In their initial play-off legs, Scotland secured a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic, Wales edged past Albania 1-0, but Northern Ireland faced a tough challenge, succumbing to Portugal 4-0. The Republic of Ireland, however, was sensational, demolishing Kazakhstan 8-0.
Like England, all of these teams will play their second legs this Tuesday. Wales will host Albania at 19:15 BST, with coverage on BBC One Wales, while Scotland faces the Czech Republic at the same time, available on BBC Scotland.
Northern Ireland’s chances look bleak after their heavy defeat against Portugal, with coach Michael McArdle admitting the task ahead is "impossible". Scotland is hoping to return to the World Cup stage after their debut in 2019, but they must be at their best to overcome Sweden, if they progress.
Wales holds a unique challenge, having never beaten a top-20 ranked team in a competitive match, and they will have to change that narrative to qualify. However, they have reason for optimism after a strong showing against Albania in their qualifying group.
The Republic of Ireland's path is promising, with Carla Ward’s side looking confident after their dominant performance in the first leg. The team is already eyeing a potential clash with Belgium in the next round.
As the play-offs progress, excitement builds for these home nations, each with a different story, yet all united in their quest for World Cup glory.
