Spain, Ireland Shake Up the World Cup Race

The UEFA race to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup became far more open after a wild Matchday 5, with Spain’s rout of England and Ireland’s upset of the Netherlands standing out above the rest. One final group round remains before the play-off field is finalized, and several major teams still have work to do.

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The Biggest Results from Friday

Spain produced the clearest statement of the night, beating England 4-0 in Group A3 and reversing the earlier loss they suffered in the same matchup. Germany also handled business with a 2-0 win over Norway, France defeated Poland by the same score, and Italy answered recent pressure with a 3-0 victory against Serbia.

The surprise of the evening came from the Republic of Ireland, which edged the Netherlands 3-2 in one of the most notable results of the entire qualifying campaign. Several other teams piled on goals as well, with Switzerland, Portugal, Scotland, and Belgium all winning by five or six goals.

Matchday 5 in One Pass

Italy beat Serbia 3-0, and Denmark defeated Sweden 2-1.
France won 2-0 in Poland, while Ireland topped the Netherlands 3-2.
Iceland beat Ukraine 1-0, and Spain crushed England 4-0.
Austria edged Slovenia 1-0, and Germany beat Norway 2-0.
Czechia drew 1-1 with Albania, and Montenegro tied Wales 1-1.
Türkiye defeated Northern Ireland 2-1, and Switzerland rolled past Malta 6-1.
Finland won 4-0 in Slovakia, and Portugal beat Latvia 5-0.
Scotland and Belgium both recorded 6-0 wins over Israel and Luxembourg.
Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 0-0 with Lithuania, while Estonia beat Liechtenstein 5-0.
Bulgaria defeated Gibraltar 3-1, and Croatia beat Kosovo 1-0.
Hungary won 2-1 in Azerbaijan, while North Macedonia beat Andorra 1-0.
The Faroe Islands won 3-2 in Georgia, while Moldova and Romania finished 0-0 and Armenia drew 1-1 with Kazakhstan.

What the Final Matchday Decides

Matchday 6 arrives on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and it will settle the last round of group positioning before the play-offs. The most closely watched games are England against Ukraine and Iceland against Spain in Group A3, where Spain’s strong result has made the final night especially important.

Group A2 also carries major tension after Ireland’s shock win. France meets Ireland, while the Netherlands faces Poland, leaving that group with a lot still unresolved. In other sections, Germany travel to Slovenia, Norway host Austria, and Sweden meet Italy in a Group A1 finish that could still matter for momentum and seeding.

Key Matchday 6 Fixtures

Group A1: Sweden v Italy and Serbia v Denmark.
Group A2: France v Republic of Ireland and Netherlands v Poland.
Group A3: England v Ukraine and Iceland v Spain.
Group A4: Norway v Austria and Slovenia v Germany.
Group B1: Wales v Czechia and Albania v Montenegro.
Group B2: Northern Ireland v Switzerland and Malta v Türkiye.
Group B3: Finland v Portugal and Latvia v Slovakia.
Group B4: Luxembourg v Belgium and Israel v Scotland.
Group C1: Estonia v Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lithuania v Liechtenstein.
Group C2: Croatia v Bulgaria and Gibraltar v Kosovo.
Group C3: Hungary v Andorra and North Macedonia v Azerbaijan.
Group C4: Georgia v Greece.
Group C5: Cyprus v Moldova.
Group C6: Belarus v Armenia.

What Comes After Group Play

Once the group stage ends, the next step is the play-off route for teams that do not qualify automatically. The draw for those ties is scheduled for June 18, 2026, and it will define the path through several knockout rounds.

The play-off schedule stretches into the fall and winter, starting with the first round from October 7 to October 13, 2026. The second round follows from November 25 to December 5, 2026, and the inter-confederation play-offs are set for February 2027.

The Long View Toward Brazil

The tournament itself runs from June 24 to July 25, 2027, when Brazil hosts the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in South America. That setting gives every remaining qualifier added weight, since each result now shapes not only group placement but also the wider route to the final tournament.

Spain’s win, Ireland’s upset, and the heavy scoring across Europe all point to one clear message: the margin for error is gone. With one matchday left, the final standings are still moving, and the biggest nights of qualifying are still ahead.