The qualification process for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is underway, with teams across the globe vying for a place in the expanded 32-nation tournament. Brazil will host the event, marking the first time a South American nation has done so, from to , 2027. This edition will be the last to feature 32 teams, as FIFA has approved an expansion to 48 teams for the 2031 tournament.
Qualification Pathways
The qualification process aims to determine 31 teams to join hosts Brazil in the final tournament. Each of FIFA’s six confederations is organizing its own qualifying competitions, tailored to its regional structure. Qualification began on , 2025, and is expected to continue through 2027.
UEFA Qualification
European qualification is structured around the UEFA Women’s Nations League rankings. Teams are divided into three leagues – A, B, and C – based on those rankings. League A comprises 16 teams in four groups of four. League B also has 16 teams, split into four groups of four, while League C consists of 21 teams in groups of three or four.
The four group winners in League A automatically qualify for the World Cup. The remaining seven direct spots, plus one representative for an inter-confederation play-off, will be determined through two rounds of two-legged home-and-away knockout matches, scheduled for to , 2026 (Round 1) and to , 2026 (Round 2).
The UEFA qualifying schedule is as follows:
- Matchdays 1-2: – , 2026
- Matchdays 3-4: – , 2026
- Matchdays 5-6: – , 2026
England has been drawn into a group with Spain – the reigning World Cup champions after their victory in 2023 – Iceland, and Ukraine. The Lionesses can secure automatic qualification by finishing first in their group.
OFC Qualification
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) qualifying process began on , 2025, and concluded on , 2026.
Historical Context and Significance
Brazil’s hosting of the 2027 World Cup represents a significant milestone for the sport in South America. It is the first time the tournament will be held in the CONMEBOL region, and only the second time it will be held in the Southern Hemisphere, following the 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand. Brazil previously hosted the Men’s World Cup in 1950 and 2014.
Spain enters the qualification cycle as the defending champions, having won their first Women’s World Cup title in 2023. Brazil’s team has a strong history in the competition, having reached the final in 2007, finishing as runners-up.
Tournament Statistics (as of December 2, 2025)
As of , 2025, the qualification process has seen 142 matches played, with a total of 558 goals scored (an average of 3.93 goals per match). Sabitra Bhandari and Kim Kyong-yong are currently the top scorers with 9 goals each.
Slot Allocation
The allocation of slots for the final tournament was approved by the FIFA Council on , 2024. The host nation’s slot is deducted from its confederation’s allocation.
Current Status of Teams
As of today, , 2026, Brazil has automatically qualified as the host nation. The remaining 31 teams will be determined through the ongoing qualification processes across the six confederations. The status of other teams is categorized as either still able to qualify, eliminated, withdrawn/suspended, or not entering (due to not having a women’s team or not being a FIFA member).
