Lionesses will face Greece in World Cup play-offs
Lionesses Set for Greece Clash in 2027 Women's World Cup Play-offs
Lionesses will face Greece in World - England's Women's National Team, known as the Lionesses, have been assigned to face Greece in the first round of the 2027 Women's World Cup play-offs. The team secured five victories in their six qualifier matches but failed to secure an automatic berth after a 4-0 loss to Spain earlier this month.
Play-off Structure and Opponents
The play-offs will consist of two rounds of home and away fixtures, with the away match taking place first. If England triumph over Greece, they will then challenge the winner of Slovakia’s encounter with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland have also revealed their opponents for World Cup qualification.
Wales will host Albania in round one, Scotland face the Czech Republic, and Northern Ireland take on Portugal. The Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, will travel to Kazakhstan. Fixture dates remain to be confirmed, though matches are scheduled for October, November, and December.
"We knew what the play-offs would look like and, while we're pleased with the draw against Greece, the focus now is on making sure we're really well prepared," said England manager Sarina Wiegman. "We want to dominate games and have a lot of the ball and that's something we will prepare for carefully."
Qualification Context
England faced an unfavorable group stage draw when they encountered world champions Spain, though this has positioned Sarina Wiegman's team favorably for the play-offs. Their October match against Greece offers a more manageable challenge.
Wales, who have yet to defeat a top-20 ranked team in a competitive match, face a significant challenge as their away performance requires improvement. However, Rhian Wilkinson's squad will encounter a team they've previously defeated—Albania—in the first round, providing a confidence boost.
Scotland aim to reach their second Women's World Cup finals, having missed out in 2023. They demonstrated resilience during the qualifiers, including draws with Belgium, showcasing their ability to compete against Europe's elite. If they progress to round two, they will face Sweden, a formidable opponent with a history of reaching semi-finals.
Northern Ireland's path includes a round-one clash with Portugal, a team that twice defeated them in Euro 2025 qualifying. Their route becomes even more complex if they advance to the second round, where Iceland poses a tough challenge in their matches against England this year.
Team-by-Team Insights
The Republic of Ireland, despite strong qualifying performances, face a demanding play-off path, with Belgium as a potential round-two opponent. Their initial challenge will be a 3,100-mile journey to Kazakhstan, where they'll face less familiar competition.
England did not want to enter the play-offs but now have a chance to bounce back. The team’s previous wins over Ukraine in the qualifiers will serve as a psychological edge, adding to their confidence ahead of the upcoming fixtures.
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