The UEFA path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup became much sharper after Matchday 5, with Spain’s 4-0 dismissal of England standing out as the defining result. A crowded race, a few surprise outcomes, and one final round left before the play-off field is confirmed make the next set of fixtures decisive.
Several of Europe’s biggest teams also handled business, while Ireland’s win over the Netherlands provided the night’s clearest upset. With Matchday 6 next on the calendar, the table pressure is rising fast.
What Changed on Matchday 5
Spain produced the round’s headline performance, backing up a narrow first-leg loss to England with a dominant four-goal response. Germany, France, and Italy all posted comfortable wins, but the most striking result outside the elite bracket came from the Republic of Ireland, who beat the Netherlands 3-2 and damaged Dutch momentum.
There were also one-sided wins for Switzerland, Portugal, Scotland, and Belgium, each of whom used the matchday to strengthen position and goal difference. In a qualification format where margins matter, those scores may prove important later.
- Spain 4-0 England changed the tone of Group A3.
- Republic of Ireland 3-2 Netherlands delivered the round’s biggest upset.
- Germany, France, Italy, and Denmark all secured valuable results.
- Scotland, Belgium, Portugal, and Switzerland piled up goals and confidence.
Key Results From Friday
| League | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
| League A | Italy vs. Serbia | 3-0 |
| League A | Republic of Ireland vs. Netherlands | 3-2 |
| League A | Spain vs. England | 4-0 |
| League A | Germany vs. Norway | 2-0 |
| League B | Switzerland vs. Malta | 6-1 |
| League B | Portugal vs. Latvia | 5-0 |
| League B | Scotland vs. Israel | 6-0 |
| League B | Belgium vs. Luxembourg | 6-0 |
Final Group Round on Tuesday
The last group stage fixtures arrive on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, and they will settle both qualification order and play-off seeding. The most watched games are in League A, where England host Ukraine and Spain travel to Iceland, while France meet Ireland after the Irish side’s surprise against the Netherlands.
The schedule is broad across all three leagues, but the late tension sits mainly in the top tier, where several teams still have something to gain or lose from the final whistle.
- Group A3: England vs. Ukraine and Iceland vs. Spain, both at 21:00 CET.
- Group A2: France vs. Republic of Ireland and Netherlands vs. Poland, both at 21:00 CET.
- Group A4: Norway vs. Austria and Slovenia vs. Germany, both at 18:00 CET.
- Group B4: Luxembourg vs. Belgium and Israel vs. Scotland, both at 19:00 CET.
- Group C4 to C6: Georgia vs. Greece, Cyprus vs. Moldova, and Belarus vs. Armenia.
Play-Off Road and Tournament Timeline
Once group qualifying ends, the next stage is the play-off bracket for teams that have not booked direct progress. The draw for those ties is set for 18 June 2026, with the opening play-off round scheduled as a two-leg series in October.
The second play-off round follows in late November and early December, and the inter-confederation play-offs are due in February 2027. Those matches will decide who completes the route to Brazil.
The final prize is a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, set for 24 June to 25 July 2027. It will be the first Women’s World Cup hosted in South America, which raises the stakes even higher for every result still to come.
