The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027, marking the first time a South American nation will host the women’s tournament.
The championship will feature 32 nations competing across eight world-class Brazilian stadiums, with Spain defending their title as reigning champions.
This will be the second and final edition featuring 32 teams, as FIFA has confirmed an expansion to 48 teams starting from 2031.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Qualification Format, Teams and Structure
The qualification process is designed to determine 31 teams to join Brazil (hosts) in the final tournament. Qualification across all confederations follows different formats tailored to regional structures.
UEFA (European Qualifiers) – 11 Direct Spots
League Structure: Teams are divided into three leagues based on 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League rankings:
- League A: 16 teams in 4 groups of 4
- League B: 16 teams in 4 groups of 4
- League C: 21 teams in groups of 3-4
Qualification Pathway:
- Direct Qualification: 4 League A group winners qualify automatically
- Play-offs: Two rounds of two-legged home-and-away knockout matches (October-December 2026) determine the remaining 7 direct spots plus 1 inter-confederation play-off representative
Matchday Schedule:
- Matchdays 1-2: 26 February – 7 March 2026
- Matchdays 3-4: 9-18 April 2026
- Matchdays 5-6: 3-9 June 2026
- Play-off Round 1: 7-13 October 2026
- Play-off Round 2: 26 November – 5 December 2026.
UEFA League A Groups
| Group A1 | Group A2 | Group A3 | Group A4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | France | Spain | Germany |
| Italy | Netherlands | England | Norway |
| Denmark | Poland | Iceland | Austria |
| Serbia | Republic of Ireland | Ukraine | Slovenia |
Key Note: England will face Spain (2023 World Cup final opponent), Iceland, and Ukraine. The Lionesses can secure automatic qualification by finishing first.
UEFA League B Groups
| Group B1 | Group B2 | Group B3 | Group B4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | Switzerland | Portugal | Belgium |
| Czechia | Northern Ireland | Finland | Scotland |
| Albania | Türkiye | Slovakia | Israel |
| Montenegro | Malta | Latvia | Luxembourg |
Key Note: Scotland and Northern Ireland (both from the UK and Ireland) are in different groups. Wales will compete in League B for the first time in a Women’s World Cup qualification cycle.
UEFA League C Groups
| Group C1 | Group C2 | Group C3 | Group C4 | Group C5 | Group C6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | Croatia | Hungary | Greece | Romania | Belarus |
| Estonia | Kosovo | Azerbaijan | Faroe Islands | Cyprus | Kazakhstan |
| Lithuania | Bulgaria | North Macedonia | Georgia | Moldova | Armenia |
| Liechtenstein | Gibraltar | Andorra | — | — | — |
Qualification
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualification allocates spots across all confederations as follows.
| Confederation | Direct Spots | Inter-Conf. Play-offs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA (Europe) | 11 | 1 | 12 |
| CAF (Africa) | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| AFC (Asia) | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean) | 3 | — | 3 |
| CONMEBOL (South America) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| OFC (Oceania) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil (Hosts) | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total | 26 | 5 | 31 |
Host Venues in Brazil
Eight stadiums across Brazil will host matches during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, all previously used for the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
| City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro | Estádio do Maracanã | 73,139 |
| Brasília | Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha | 69,910 |
| Belo Horizonte | Estádio Mineirão | 66,658 |
| Fortaleza | Arena Castelão | 57,867 |
| Porto Alegre | Estádio Beira-Rio | 50,848 |
| São Paulo | Arena Corinthians | 48,905 |
| Salvador | Arena Fonte Nova | 47,915 |
| Recife | Arena Pernambuco | 45,440 |
Inter-Confederation Play-offs
Ten teams will compete in two rounds of inter-confederation play-offs in November-December 2026 (first round) and February 2027 (second round) to determine the final three World Cup spots.
- AFC (Asia) – 2 teams
- CAF (Africa) – 2 teams
- CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean) – 2 teams
- CONMEBOL (South America) – 2 teams
- OFC (Oceania) – 1 team
- UEFA (Europe) – 1 team
Tournament Format
The 2027 final tournament will follow the same format as the 2023.
- Group Stage: 8 groups of 4 teams each
- Knockout Stage: Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Final
- Total Matches: 64 matches
- Duration: June 24 – July 25, 2027
Key Dates and Milestones
- Qualifying Draw: 4 November 2025 (UEFA draw already completed)
- UEFA League Phase: February – June 2026
- UEFA Play-offs: October – December 2026
- Inter-Confederation Play-offs: November 2026 – February 2027
- Final Tournament: 24 June – 25 July 2027
Already Qualified Teams
Only Brazil (as hosts) has automatically qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. All other 31 spots must be earned through confederation-specific qualification processes currently underway.
Q: When and where will the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup take place?
A: The tournament will be held in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027, across eight stadiums in major Brazilian cities.
Q: How many teams will participate in the 2027 Women’s World Cup?
A: 32 teams will compete in the final tournament—Brazil as hosts plus 31 qualified nations.
Q: Which confederation has the most direct qualification spots?
A: UEFA (Europe) has the most with 11 direct spots, followed by CAF (Africa) with 5, AFC (Asia) with 4, and CONCACAF with 3.
Q: Who are the defending champions?
A: Spain won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and will defend their title in Brazil.
Q: How many European teams will qualify for the 2027 World Cup?
A: 12 European teams will qualify through UEFA—11 directly and 1 through inter-confederation play-offs.
Q: What is the UEFA qualification format?
A: Teams are divided into League A (16 teams), League B (16 teams), and League C (21 teams) based on rankings. League A group winners qualify automatically, while other spots are determined through play-offs.
Q: When do UEFA qualifying matches begin?
A: UEFA qualifying matches start on February 26, 2026, with play-offs scheduled for October-December 2026.
Q: Will there be play-offs to determine World Cup spots?
A: Yes, two rounds of inter-confederation play-offs (November 2026 and February 2027) will determine the final three spots.
Q: Which England group will compete in for the 2027 qualification?
A: England is in UEFA League A Group 3 alongside Spain, Iceland, and Ukraine.
Q: Has Brazil automatically qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup?
A: Yes, Brazil has automatically qualified as the host nation.
