Women’s World Cup qualifying draw: England to face Spain in Euro 2025 final rematch | OneFootball

The European qualifying draw for the 2027 Women’s World Cup has pitted England against Spain in a rematch of the Euro 2025 final.

England beat Spain on penalties to successfully defend their European Championship trophy, which they had previously won for the first time in 2022.

Spain though got the better of the Lionesses in the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia.

Sarina Wiegman’s side will need positive results against Spain, if they are to avoid slipping into the playoffs.

Women’s World Cup: Who will England face in qualifying?

The qualifying draw for the 2027 Women’s World Cup pitted England in Group 3 of League A, alongside Spain, Iceland and Ukraine.

Wiegman’s side will play each of their group opponents home and away, with only the team that finishes top of the group directly qualifying for the World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.

Should the Lionesses fail to win their group, they will have to go through two rounds of playoffs to qualify for the tournament.

England’s clashes with Spain are huge tests for the Lionesses, with Spain likely to be determined to exact revenge for their Euro 2025 final defeat.

Spain are also under new management after replacing Montse Tome with Sonia Bermudez. 

The Lionesses were always on to face a difficult group. Going into the draw, the Lionesses knew they would face one of Spain, France, Germany or Sweden.

England could have also faced a clash with the Republic of Ireland. However, Carla Ward’s side were drawn alongside France, the Netherlands and Poland.

Sweden and Italy, who both lost to England in the knockout stage of Euro 2025, were drawn alongside each other, as well as Denmark and Serbia.

The final group in League A features Germany, Norway, Austria and Slovenia.

Elsewhere in League B, Wales were drawn in Group 1 alongside Czechia, Albania and Montenegro, while Scotland are in Group 4 with Belgium, Israel and Luxembourg.

Northern Ireland were drawn in a tough Group 2 with Switzerland, Turkiye and Malta

Full Women’s World Cup qualifying draw

League A

League B

League C

What happens if England don’t win their group?

England will reach the playoffs regardless of whether they finish second, third or fourth in their group.

The Lionesses would then have to win two rounds of two-legged playoffs to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

In total, 12 teams from League A will slip into the playoffs, alongside 12 teams from League B and a further eight from League C.

A lot of attention will be on Hannah Hampton after the media furore surrounding Mary Earps’ comments about her in her upcoming autobiography.

England have two more friendlies to come against China and Ghana this year, before World Cup qualifying matches commence in March 2026.

The Lionesses will likely be without Michelle Agyemang, who has been ruled out for the season with a ruptured ACL.

How many teams from Europe qualify for the Women’s World Cup?

The four group winners from League A are the only European nations who will qualify for the Women’s World Cup without having to go through the playoffs.

Then 32 teams from across Leagues A, B and C will enter the playoffs, which are held over two rounds.

In the second round, the seven highest-ranked winners according to FIFA rankings will qualify for the tournament in Brazil.

The lowest-ranked second-round playoff winner will then have to go through an intercontinental playoff in February 2027.

Fans react to England draw

Unsurprisingly, the major talking point among England fans on social media is the rematch with Spain from the Euro 2025 final.

@SimonaFas wrote: “England vs Spain is like a love/hate story at this point. While @Dislando commented: “England vs Spain – the sequel nobody healed from.”

Another fan said: “Not Spain again, it’s like Chelsea and Barca can never escape each other.”

There was also a mixture of optimism and pessimism among fans ahead of the two matches with Spain.

@ImDavidJ13 wrote: “Playoffs it is,” while @Phoebespenny26 said, “You got this let’s f***ing go Lionesses”.