UEFA women's World Cup playoff draw sets England vs Greece

The path to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil became clearer on Thursday as the UEFA qualifying playoffs draw was conducted in Nyon, Switzerland. England, the 2023 World Cup runners-up, will face Greece in the first round of the two-legged playoff system this October. Should they advance, they would meet the winner of Slovakia versus Ukraine in the second round in November and December.

Northern Ireland was drawn against Portugal, while Scotland will play the Czech Republic, Wales faces Albania, and the Republic of Ireland will take on Kazakhstan in the first round. Based on their group-stage finishes, England, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are scheduled to play their second legs at home, while Northern Ireland will play its second leg away.

The playoff structure involves two rounds of home-and-away ties, with the first round scheduled for October and the second round spanning November and December. The seven highest-ranked winners from the second round will qualify directly for the World Cup finals. The eighth winner will enter an inter-confederation playoff in February 2027.

England manager Sarina Wiegman acknowledged the draw, stating the team is pleased...