Brazil to Host the 2027 Women’s World Cup: Key Details Unveiled
The 10th edition of the Women’s World Cup is set to occur in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027. Matches will be held across eight venues that previously hosted the men’s World Cup in 2014.
This tournament marks the second and final year featuring 32 teams, with the competition expanding to 48 teams starting in 2031. Brazil has automatically qualified as the host nation.
Spain, the current champions, claimed their first World Cup title in 2023 by defeating England.
How Did the First Phase of Qualifying Work in Europe?
The initial round of European qualifying occurred between March and June 2026. Fifty-three European nations were divided into three leagues based on the 2025 UEFA Women’s Nations League. League A and League B each featured 16 teams, while League C included 21 teams. The group winners from League A—Denmark, France, Spain, and Germany—secured direct entry into the 2027 World Cup.
Teams from League A that did not qualify will participate in the play-offs, including notable nations like England and the Republic of Ireland. Additionally, the top three teams from each League B group, as well as the six group winners and the two best runners-up from League C, will also enter the play-offs. This qualifying round also served to decide promotion and relegation effects for the next UEFA Women’s Nations League edition.
What About the Other Countries?
A total of 32 teams will qualify for the tournament from six confederations, including an inter-confederation play-off tournament:
- Europe: 11 slots
- Asia: 6 slots
- Africa: 4 slots
- North America, Central America, and the Caribbean: 4 slots
- South America: 3 slots
- Oceania: 1 slot
- Inter-confederation play-off tournament: 3 slots
Four teams from Africa qualified by reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon): Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, and Malawi. The four losing quarter-finalists—Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and South Africa—will compete in the inter-confederation play-off tournament later this year.
Who Has Qualified?
The confirmed teams joining Brazil as hosts include:
Europe
- Denmark
- France
- Spain
- Germany
Asia
- [Details coming soon]
Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Cameroon
- Malawi
North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
- [Details coming soon]
South America
- [Details coming soon]
Oceania
- [Details coming soon]
Inter-confederation play-off tournament
- [Details coming soon]
Who Are in the European Play-offs?
The draw for the European play-offs is scheduled for June 18. The play-offs will unfold across two rounds from October to December 2026.
In the first round, 32 teams will split into two paths. Path 1 will consist of teams that finished second and third in League A, competing against teams from League C. Path 2 will include the bottom teams from League A and top teams from League B. Both paths will conduct two-legged matches.
In the second round, winners from both paths will face off for the final spots for next year’s World Cup. One additional nation, which does not qualify directly, will have a chance to enter the inter-confederation play-offs for a last opportunity to qualify for the tournament.
What Are the Venues?
In May 2025, FIFA announced the host cities for the upcoming Women’s World Cup. The selected stadiums include:
- Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
- Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
- Arena Castelao, Fortaleza
- Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
- Arena de Pernambuco, Recife
- Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
- Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
- Arena Itaquera, Sao Paulo
The Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, which has a capacity of 78,838, is the largest venue selected. This iconic stadium previously hosted the men’s World Cup finals in both 1950 and 2014, and was also the venue for the final of the women’s Olympic football tournament in 2016.
The 10th edition of the Women’s World Cup is due to take place in Brazil between 24 June-25 July 2027.
Eight venues will host matches in the tournament. All were previously used for the men’s 2014 World Cup.
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It will be the second and final year with 32 teams in the competition, with the 2031 edition expanding to 48 teams.
Brazil have already qualified as tournament hosts.
Current champions Spain beat England to win their first World Cup title in 2023.
How did the first phase of qualifying work in Europe?
The first round of European qualifying for the World Cup took place between March and June 2026.
Fifty-three European nations were split into three leagues which are set by the 2025 Uefa Women’s Nations League: 16 teams in each of Leagues A and B, and 21 in League C.
The four group winners from League A earned direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup. They were Denmark, France, Spain and Germany.
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The remaining League A teams drop down to the play-offs, including England and the Republic of Ireland.
The top three sides from each League B group also enter the play-offs, as do the six League C group winners and the two best League C group runners up.
As well as World Cup qualification, qualifying also served as a promotion and relegation decider for the next edition of the Uefa Women’s Nations League.
What about the other countries?
A total of 32 teams will qualify from six confederations and the inter-confederation play-off tournament:
Europe: 11 slots
Asia: Six slots
Africa: Four slots
North America, Central America and the Caribbean: Four slots
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South America: Three slots
Oceania: One slot
Inter-confederation play-off tournament: Three slots
Four African teams have now qualified for the World Cup by making it to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) semi-finals – Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Malawi.
The four losing Wafcon quarter-finalists will enter the inter-confederation play-off tournament in November and December, with Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa looking to claim the spots still up for grabs.
Who has qualified?
Confirmed to be joining hosts Brazil having earned qualifying places are:
Europe
Asia
Africa
North America, Central America and the Caribbean
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South America
Oceania
Inter-confederation play-off tournament
Who are in the European play-offs?
The draw for the European play-offs will take place on Thursday, 18 June.
The play-offs will take place in two rounds between October and December 2026.
In the first round, 32 teams will enter and be split across two paths – Path 1 and Path 2.
In Path 1, teams who finished second and third in League A will be drawn against the sides who reached the play-offs from League C. They will play in a two-legged match in October, with the winner reaching the second round.
In Path 2, the bottom-placed sides from League A and the top League B winners will be drawn against the second and third place teams from League B. Like Path 1, they will play in two-legged matches in October for a place in the second round.
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In the second round, taking place across November and December, Path 1 winners will face Path 2 winners in two-legged matches. The winners will qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Another nation that does not qualify directly for the tournament will earn a spot into the inter-confederation play-offs, where they will get a final chance to qualify for the World Cup
League A
Path 1
Path 2
League B
Path 2
League C
Path 1
What are the venues?
The Maracana in Rio de Janeiro hosted both the 1950 and 2014 men’s World Cup finals [Getty Images]
In May 2025, Fifa announced that Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo would be the host cities.
Eight stadiums have been selected for the matches:
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Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
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Estadio Nacional, Brasilia
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Arena Castelao, Fortaleza
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Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre
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Arena de Pernambuco, Recife
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Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
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Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
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Arena Itaquera, Sao Paulo
The legendary Maracana in Rio, which hosted the 1950 and 2014 men’s World Cup finals, is the largest stadium selected with a capacity of 78,838. It was also the stage for the final of the women’s Olympic football tournament in 2016.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.
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