Following the conclusion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, 18 teams have now qualified for next summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The tournament will have 32 teams competing for the second and final time, with the expansion to 48 countries in 2031.
Eight venues will be used throughout the tournament, which were all previously used at the men’s tournament in 2014.
The showpiece in Brazil begins on 24 June 2027 and concludes on 25 July 2027.
Africa
The Wafcon tournament was a direct qualifier in Africa, with the four semi-finalists Algeria, Morocco, Malawi, and winners Cameroon all booking spots in South America.
Cameroon were crowned champions on Sunday evening in Rabat, beating debutants Malawi 3-0 to secure their first-ever Wafcon title.
Meanwhile, South Africa and Ghana clinched Africa’s two intercontinental play-off spots, which were contested between the losing quarter-finalists of the tournament.
Ghana secured a 2-1 comeback win over the Cote D’Ivoire while South Africa stunned heavyweights Nigeria by the same scoreline.
Both nations will now enter a ten-team intercontinental play-off taking place in October and December, with only three of those countries qualifying for next summer’s tournament.
Qualified: Algeria, Malawi, Cameroon and Morocco
Intercontinental play-off: Ghana and South Africa
Europe
Europe’s qualifying campaign was based on the Nations League, with League A winners Germany, France, Denmark and Spain all securing direct qualification.
England, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland still have a chance of qualifying for next summer’s tournament
The Lionesses will play Greece in round one and would meet either Ukraine or Slovakia if they prevail for a spot in Brazil.
Wales, who have never qualified for a World Cup, play Albania before a potentially daunting fixture against tournament regulars Norway or Romania.
Similarly, Scotland could also face a Scandinaia, while Ireland face Kazakhstan before Belgium or Poland in round two
Northern Ireland face Portugal before a potential meeting with Iceland or Croatia, with the playoff matches scheduled for October, with seeded teams playing the second legs at home.
Round two matches take place in November and December.
Full Playoff Draw
Slovakia or Ukraine v Greece or England
Finland or Serbia v Belarus or Italy
Northern Ireland or Portugal v Croatia or Iceland
Albania or Wales v Romania or Norway
Israel or Switzerland v Kosovo or Austria
Czech Republic or Scotland v Lithuania or Sweden
Belgium or Poland v Kazakhstan or the Republic of Ireland
Turkey or Slovenia v Hungary or Netherlands
Qualified: Germany, France, Denmark and Spain
Australia, Japan, China, North Korea, Philippines and South Korea have all secured qualification to this summer’s tournament.
All six of the countries qualifiedup for the continent
The four quarter-final winners, Japan, Australia, China and South Korea, along with the two winners of the intercontinental play-ins in North Korea and the Philippines, qualified.
The two losers, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan, will now join the intercontinental play-offs in October.
The Asian Cup was won by Japan, beating Australia 1-0 in Sydney.
Qualified: Australia, Japan, China, North Korea, Philippines and South Korea
Intercontinental play-off: Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan
South America
For the first time, Conembal hosted a standalone tournament for qualification in South America with eight countries competing in a league-phase tournament.
Colombia and Argentina took the direct qualifying spots after finishing first and second, respectively, and will join hosts Brazil next summer.
Colombia, who stunned the world in 2023 by reaching the quarter-finals, picked up 20 points from a total 24 on their way to securing qualification.
Venezuela and Ecuador, who finished third and fourth, advanced to the intercontinental play-offs, which start in October.
Qualified: Colombia, Argentina and Brazil (Hosts)
Intercontinental play-offs: Venezuela and Ecuador
Oceania
New Zealand took the one direct qualification spot in Oceania after beating Papua New Guinea, who advanced to the intercontinental play-off.
The qualification saw a single-elimination tournament in the Cook Islands between eight countries, with group winners and runners-up qualifying to the knockout tournament.
Only the tournament winner (New Zealand) secured an automatic berth into next summer’s showpiece.
Intercontinental play-off: Papua New Guinea
Women’s World Cup Qualified teams
Africa – Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco.
Asia – Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea.
Europe – Denmark, France, Germany, Spain.
Oceania – New Zealand.
South America – Argentina, Brazil (hosts), Colombia.
Intercontinental play-off: Ghana, South Africa, Ecuador, Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan
