The two-legged ties, played on October 9 and 13, produced several emphatic results, although the contests involving Central and Eastern European sides offered a more complicated picture of the current qualification system.
UEFA has 11 places at the 2027 finals in Brazil. Denmark, France, Germany and reigning champions Spain have already qualified after winning their League A groups. Seven of the eight winners in the second play-in round will secure direct qualification, with the lowest-ranked winner going into the Intercontinental Play-offs. Portugal used that route to make their World Cup debut in 2023.
The first round paired eight League A teams with eight League C sides in Path 1, while Path 2 featured League B nations. The results highlighted the gulf between some of the teams in the first pathway, but also produced competitive ties involving Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine.
Path 1: Sweden, Norway and England progress comfortably
Sweden were the most emphatic winners, defeating Lithuania 15-0 on aggregate. Real Madrid forward Felicia Schröder, 19, scored a hat-trick in the 5-0 first-leg victory in Kaunas before adding two more goals in the return match, which Sweden won 10-0 at the Strawberry Arena in Solna.
Schröder has made an impressive start to her first season in Spain, scoring five goals in four Liga F appearances and three in four UEFA Women’s Champions League matches. Before moving to Real Madrid, she scored 58 goals in 81 appearances across five seasons with Häcken, including a campaign in Sweden’s second tier.
Norway also progressed without difficulty, beating Romania 8-0 on aggregate. After a 2-0 away victory, Manchester United forward Elisabeth Terland scored a hat-trick in the second leg as Norway won 6-0.
England overcame Greece 8-1 on aggregate, although the opening match in Heraklion was more competitive than the final score suggests. Greece’s only goal in a 3-1 defeat came from American-born forward Calliste Brookshire, 24, who joined Glasgow Rangers in January. She has scored three times in 14 regular-season appearances for the Scottish club and has four goals in ten senior internationals since making her Greece debut in 2025.
England settled the tie with a 5-0 home victory in Leicester. Chelsea forward Lauren James and Arsenal striker Alessia Russo both scored twice.
There was also considerable interest in England’s squad selection. Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, 20, received her first senior call-up after an encouraging start to the Women's Super League season. She has started three of Chelsea’s first four matches and impressed alongside club-mate Keira Walsh.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman identified Potter as a holding midfielder, explaining that her performances had earned the opportunity and that her presence could allow Walsh to move further forward.
The selection also brought the surprise omission of Manchester City’s Ella Toone and Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly, both of whom had been part of England’s recent European Championship successes and the team that reached the 2023 World Cup final.
Wiegman said their current performances had not reached the levels she expected, pointing to the competition for places in the squad. She added that both players had received the feedback positively, although it was understandably difficult to accept.
Arsenal defender Taylor Hinds, Aston Villa goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck and Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy were also left out. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson returned after her first call-up in April. She has become a regular presence for North Carolina Courage since joining the NWSL club in July.
England’s squad was predominantly drawn from the WSL, with three players based in the United States: Jess Carter and Esme Morgan, both in the NWSL, and Parkinson. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse was included while on loan at Manchester City from Orlando Pride.
Iceland defeated Croatia 9-0 on aggregate. Vålerenga forward Arna Eiríksdóttir scored twice in the opening 4-0 victory in Pula, including the final goal in stoppage time. Brann forward Diljá Zomers then scored twice late in the return match as Iceland won 5-0.
The Republic of Ireland recorded a 12-0 aggregate victory over Kazakhstan. Head coach Carla Ward had warned against complacency before the tie, citing the travel demands and the possibility of facing Poland or Belgium in the next round.
Ireland were without captain Katie McCabe and midfielder Marissa Sheva for the first leg through suspension, while Denise O’Sullivan did not travel. Injuries also ruled out Tara O’Hanlon and Celtic forward Saoirse Noonan. Leicester City defender Heather Payne returned to the squad for the first time since October 2025, while Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft received her first call-up. Hopcroft qualifies through her grandmother, who is from Tubbercurry in County Sligo, and previously played college football in the United States.
The Irish made short work of the tie, winning 8-0 in Astana in front of around 1,000 spectators. American-born forward Kyra Carusa, 30, scored twice. She is on loan at Danish club HB Køge from the Kansas City Current and now has 15 goals in 47 senior appearances for Ireland. She also featured in all three of the country's matches at the 2023 World Cup.
The return match in Cork completed a 12-0 aggregate success. Ireland had previously beaten Kazakhstan twice in 2009 World Cup qualifying, on both occasions by 2-1.
Ward has also faced speculation about a possible return to former club Aston Villa. She dismissed the suggestion, insisting that her focus was entirely on Ireland's remaining qualification matches and that she loved the job.
The speculation is difficult to dismiss entirely given the history of changes in the Irish coaching position. Colin Bell left after two seasons to become an assistant at Huddersfield before moving on to coach South Korea, while Vera Pauw's tenure ended after the controversy surrounding the team's 2023 World Cup campaign. Ward's future may depend on how far Ireland progress: a second consecutive World Cup qualification could strengthen the case for her to remain through the Brazil tournament.
Austria beat Kosovo 6-1 on aggregate after recovering from an early deficit in the first leg in Pristina. Stuttgart forward Nicole Billa scored the winner in an eventual 2-1 victory and now has 48 goals in 110 senior internationals. She has also been prolific at club level, scoring 22 goals in 31 Frauen-Bundesliga appearances during her second season with Stuttgart.
Kosovo's opening goal came from Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Ereleta Memeti, who was born in Germany and represented the country at youth level before switching to Kosovo in 2019. She has since scored 26 goals in 64 senior internationals.
The Netherlands were similarly convincing, defeating Hungary 11-0 on aggregate. Real Madrid's Lineth Beerensteyn and Tottenham Hotspur's Victoria Pelova both scored hat-tricks in the opening 8-0 win. Beerensteyn, in her first season in Spain after two years with Wolfsburg, added another goal in the return match, with Barcelona forward Esmee Brugts and OL Lyonnes midfielder Damaris Egurrola also scoring in a 3-0 victory.
Italy advanced 3-1 on aggregate against Belarus. Inter Milan forward Elisa Polli scored in stoppage time to give Italy a 2-0 first-leg advantage in Minsk. Barbara Bonansea then scored early in the return match, before Belarus forward Karyna Alkhovik reduced the deficit. Alkhovik, who has played in Belarus, Italy and Turkey, currently represents Ankara BB Fomget.
Path 2: Poland survive a dramatic contest with Belgium
Wales progressed past Albania 4-0 on aggregate, but the tie came during a difficult period for head coach Rhian Wilkinson, who was without seven players through injury.
The absentees included Crystal Palace defender Hayley Ladd, Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland, West Ham forward Ffion Morgan, Southampton midfielder Laura Hughes, Bristol City defender Ella Powell and Leicester City goalkeeper Olivia Clark. Together, the unavailable players represented almost 300 international caps.
Wilkinson used the opportunity to bring six uncapped players into the squad. Teenagers Casi Gregson, 18, of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur's Heidi Hills, also 18, received their first senior call-ups. Wilkinson praised their progress through the Welsh youth system and described Hills as an exciting young prospect.
Former Wales striker Kayleigh Barton, who retired after the 2025 European Championship with 89 caps and 22 goals, also joined the camp in a coaching role, providing experience for a group containing several young players.
Wales won the first leg 1-0 in Albania, with an own goal from Ezmiralda Franja, before Manchester City's Mayzee Davies scored in a 3-0 second-leg victory at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli. Wales now face Norway in the final round, with the interesting subplot that Norway are managed by former Wales head coach Gemma Grainger.
Cymru entered the tie unbeaten in their previous eight matches, winning five and drawing three. They had topped their qualifying group with 17 goals in six games, finishing three points ahead of Czechia. Albania had also been in that group, losing 4-0 in Wrexham and 1-0 at home.
Wilkinson had warned that Albania would be difficult opponents, particularly because of their defensive resilience and the danger of Wales losing concentration. She stressed that the priority was to secure an advantage rather than chase a large scoreline.
The squad was largely based in England, with Seattle Reign midfielder Angharad James-Turner and Sweden-based Carrie Jones among the overseas selections.
Wales have also taken an important step in developing their national-team pathway by establishing a women's under-23 side. Nineteen players attended the first training camp during the October international window, with the programme running alongside the senior team's preparations.
The camp was led by under-19 head coach Nia Davies, assisted by former international Barton, Swansea City head coach Yzzy Taylor and FAW National Academy Manager Brad Flay. Three players — Tianna Teisar, Hills and Cadi Rodgers — were included in both the senior and under-23 groups.
The introduction of the age group follows several years of work behind the scenes. Although there is no official UEFA under-23 women's competition, a number of European countries have established teams at that level to bridge the gap between youth and senior international football.
The programme also supports Wales' talent identification work, including efforts to find eligible players through birth or heritage beyond the country's borders. The first camp concluded with a behind-closed-doors match against WSL2 side Watford.
Slovenia progressed after a highly competitive tie against Turkey, winning 5-3 on aggregate. The first leg in Istanbul finished 3-3 after Slovenia recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit. Nina Kajzba scored in the 93rd minute to give her side a valuable result ahead of the return match.
Kajzba, 22, has played in Italy with Roma, Parma and Napoli, and was loaned to Belgian side Standard Liège earlier in 2026, where she scored nine goals in seven matches. She moved permanently to Swiss club Zürich in July and had scored eight goals in her first five league appearances of the season.
France-born Turkey forward Selen Gül Altunkulak scored twice in the first leg. She has represented the Turkish national team since 2017 after spending her club career in France.
The second match remained level until the closing stages, when Maja Sternad scored in the 83rd minute and Mirjam Kastelec added another in stoppage time to secure Slovenia's progression.
Sternad, 22, was born in Germany and joined Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the current season after five campaigns with Werder Bremen. She represented Germany at several youth levels before switching to Slovenia's senior side in 2024. Kastelec plays for Slovenian club ŽNK Radomlje.
Slovenia had competed in League A for the first time during the European qualifying group stage, facing Germany, Norway and Austria. Their coach, Saša Kolman, acknowledged the team's injury problems before the tie but expressed confidence in their quality and experience. He stressed that Slovenia needed to match Turkey's energy and aggression before their technical ability could make the difference.
The teams had been relatively close in the FIFA rankings, with Slovenia 37th and Turkey 46th. Their two matches were an encouraging advertisement for women's football in the region.
Ukraine defeated Slovakia 4-1 on aggregate, winning the first leg 3-1 before a 1-0 second-leg victory. Vorskla Poltava forward Veronika Andrukhiv scored the only goal of the return match just before half-time and had also found the net in the opening fixture. She briefly played in Romania in 2021 but has spent the rest of her career in Ukraine.
Switzerland beat Israel 9-3 on aggregate after a remarkable first leg in neutral Hungary. The Swiss won 7-3 in front of a crowd of just 28 people, with Lia Kamber and Riola Xhemaili both scoring second-half braces. Israel's Talia Sommer scored a hat-trick.
Kamber plays for Union Berlin in Germany, while Xhemaili moved to Como for the 2026-27 season after spells in Germany and the Netherlands. Sommer, 22, was born in the United States and played college football at Butler University. She joined Gotham FC for the 2026 season, although she has yet to feature in the NWSL regular season. She previously played for ASA Tel Aviv, joining the club as a 14-year-old while attending high school in the city.
Switzerland won the return match 2-0 to complete the tie.
The most dramatic contest of the round was between Belgium and Poland. Belgium won the first leg 1-0, with Sassuolo forward Elena Dhont scoring in first-half stoppage time. Both Belgium's Tess Wullaert and Poland's Ewa Pajor had penalties saved.
Wullaert, 33, has scored 105 goals in 158 internationals and joined Como from Inter Milan for the current season. She scored 24 goals in 45 appearances during her two campaigns with Inter.
Poland turned the tie around in the return match, winning 3-2 to level the aggregate score at 3-3. The teams then exchanged goals in extra time. Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Jarne Teulings gave Belgium the aggregate advantage in the 105th minute, but Barcelona forward Pajor scored again in the 116th minute to force a penalty shootout.
Poland prevailed 4-3 from the spot to reach the final round.
Scotland defeated Czechia 5-2 on aggregate, while Portugal eliminated Northern Ireland 7-1.
Portugal established a commanding position with a 4-0 first-leg win in Larne, despite having defender Catarina Amado sent off in the 65th minute. Northern Ireland also lost Cora Chambers to a red card in stoppage time.
Amado, 27, has two goals in 46 senior appearances since her international debut in 2021. She missed the return match through suspension, but Portugal still won 3-1 in Portimão.
Portugal spread their goals across the two matches, with five different players scoring. Veteran forward Jéssica Silva found the net in both games. The 31-year-old, who has more than 125 caps, recently joined Galatasaray after a season with Al Hilal. She has also played in the NWSL for Kansas City Current and Gotham FC and has been an influential figure in the development of Portuguese women's football.
Northern Ireland head coach Michael McArdle introduced five new players for the tie. Among them were attacker Kess Elmore, 27, and defender Lucy-Jayne Grant, 22, both receiving their first call-ups to the senior programme.
Elmore plays for Sparta Prague in the Czech Women's First League and has previously represented St. Pölten in Austria, Brooklyn in the United States and Saint-Étienne in France. She has experience in both the Women's Champions League and Europa Cup and previously represented England at under-17 and under-19 level. She qualifies for Northern Ireland through her father, who is from Lisburn.
Grant plays for Galway United in the Republic of Ireland after previously representing Athlone Town. She is from County Cavan and qualifies through her father, who is from County Down.
Three other additions — midfielder Charlotte Havern, 16, midfielder Naomi McLaughlin, 21, and defender Jane McMaster, 22 — had all represented Northern Ireland at youth level.
Sunderland's Emily Cassap, 16, retained her place after making her debut in June and scoring within a minute of coming on as a substitute. Sheffield United midfielder Connie Scofield also returned to the squad.
McArdle's appointment in March marked the start of a new chapter for Northern Ireland. According to reporting by Tom Garry in *The Guardian*, he previously worked in the construction industry while playing semi-professional football as a goalkeeper. After studying building services engineering and taking coaching qualifications, he accepted a substantial pay cut to move into full-time coaching in Scotland, working with Falkirk, St Mirren and Ayr United before taking charge of Scotland's women's under-23 side and later becoming the Scottish FA's head of elite women's football.
His approach with Northern Ireland has been to avoid imposing one rigid formation or style on a team still trying to establish itself at a higher level. McArdle believes the country must move beyond simply defending and trying to survive in League B.
He explained that Northern Ireland needed to accept the discomfort of playing stronger opponents if it was to become a team capable of competing regularly at a higher level. The experience of difficult matches, he argued, would help prepare the side for future play-offs.
McArdle had described the possibility of reaching the World Cup as something resembling a movie script, with several historic results still required. But Portugal's 7-1 aggregate victory ended Northern Ireland's hopes of reaching Brazil. Portugal will now face Iceland in the second round, with the possibility of another route through the Intercontinental Play-offs.
Finland completed the first round with a 6-2 aggregate win over Serbia. AC Milan midfielder Emma Koivisto scored in both 3-1 victories. Now in her third season with the Italian club, she previously played for Liverpool, Brighton and Häcken, as well as clubs in Finland. She has 10 goals in 123 senior internationals and spent four seasons at Florida State University.
UEFA's play-in format deserves another look
The first round produced a striking difference between the two pathways. In Path 1, all eight League C teams were eliminated by League A opponents. The closest aggregate score was Belarus' 3-1 defeat to Italy, while Lithuania lost 15-0 to Sweden. Three of the eight ties saw the League A team score at least 11 goals without conceding.
Path 2 was much more competitive. Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine were the only teams from Central and Eastern Europe to progress, but their ties demonstrated that these nations can compete when the difference in league status is not so pronounced.
Poland needed penalties to eliminate Belgium after a 3-3 aggregate draw, while Slovenia's two matches against Turkey were among the most entertaining of the round. Ukraine also progressed against Slovakia.
The wider picture remains concerning for Central and Eastern European women's football. Excluding Russia, which remains suspended from UEFA competitions following its invasion of Ukraine, no nation from the region has ever qualified for a Women's World Cup. This is despite countries from other regions, including Equatorial Guinea, Malawi, North Korea and Costa Rica, having reached previous or future finals.
The region's limited record at the Women's European Championship is also notable. Across 14 tournaments, only Russia, Ukraine and Poland have appeared at the finals among the 55 current UEFA members.
UEFA should consider whether the current play-in structure is helping or hindering the development of these national teams. The arrangement in Path 1, with eight League A sides facing eight League C opponents, has produced ties that are largely decided before the return match is played.
One option would be to remove the first round, while another would be to hold an open draw involving all remaining 32 teams. That could produce more challenging fixtures for the higher-ranked nations and give the lower-ranked sides a more realistic opportunity to progress.
Another possibility would be to pair League C teams with League B opponents, with the winners then facing League A nations. Reducing the number of teams entering the play-ins is also an option, although that would likely exclude most League C sides.
The contrast with the matches involving League A and League B teams was clear. Four League A teams that finished bottom of their groups and were relegated to League B for the next UEFA competition faced League B opponents in the first play-in round. Finland was the only League B side to advance, defeating Serbia 6-2 on aggregate, but the other ties were much closer.
The Poland-Belgium and Slovenia-Turkey contests, in particular, showed the potential for exciting and competitive football in the region. Those matches were far better advertisements for the game than the one-sided results in Path 1.
The final round: eight places still to be decided
The second and final round of UEFA play-in qualifying begins next month. The eight ties are:
- Ukraine vs England
- Finland vs Italy
- Portugal vs Iceland
- Wales vs Norway
- Switzerland vs Austria
- Scotland vs Sweden
- Poland vs Republic of Ireland
- Slovenia vs Netherlands
Five of the eight contests will pit League A teams against League B opponents, while three involve nations that competed in League A during the group stage.
There will also be some familiar opponents. England and Ukraine met twice earlier in the qualifying campaign, with England winning 6-1 away at a neutral venue in Antalya before recording a 3-0 home victory at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium. Ireland and Poland were also in the same group, with Poland winning 3-2 at home before Ireland claimed a 1-0 victory in the return fixture.
Seven of the eight second-round winners will qualify directly for Brazil, while the lowest-ranked winner will have one final opportunity through the Intercontinental Play-offs. With the first round now complete, the remaining fixtures promise a considerably more competitive test of Europe's leading and emerging women's national teams.
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