Friday night in Majorca was a sobering experience for England's women. A 4-0 defeat to Spain — the side they had beaten 1-0 at Wembley back in April — has almost certainly ended any hope of topping Group A and sealing automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. But the door to next summer's tournament is far from shut.

Where England stand

The result leaves England and Spain level on points at the summit of Group A, with Spain now holding a superior head-to-head record. If Spain beat Iceland in their final fixture on Tuesday evening, they will claim the group and a direct place in Brazil regardless of what happens elsewhere. England face Ukraine at home at the same time — kick-off 20:00 BST — but even a victory would leave them as group runners-up if Spain do their job.

Finishing second means the play-off route, which consists of two rounds of home-and-away ties. As a League A runner-up, Sarina Wiegman's side would be seeded in the first round and drawn against a League C group winner or one of the two best-ranked League C runners-up — sides such as Hungary or Romania represent the likely level of opposition. England would host the second leg of that tie.

Progress through the first round would not, however, be enough on its own. A second two-leg play-off follows, with the winners of that tie booking their flights to Brazil. The draws for both rounds are scheduled for 18 June 2026, with first-round matches in October and the second round in late November and early December of that year. It is a longer road than anticipated, but a walkable one for a side of England's calibre.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland's play-off battles

All three of England's home nations rivals are operating in League B and cannot reach the World Cup through automatic qualification — only the play-offs offer them a route.

Scotland are in the strongest position, leading Group B4 on 11 points. They are level with Belgium on head-to-head record but hold a four-goal advantage in goal difference. In Tuesday's final group game, Scotland face Israel — a side they beat 6-0 on Friday — and need at least to match Belgium's result against Luxembourg while protecting that goal-difference cushion. Topping the group would earn them a seeding in the play-off draw and, potentially, a mouth-watering two-legged tie against England.

Wales sit second in Group B1 behind Czech Republic after a 1-1 draw in Montenegro. They must beat the Czechs in their final match to claim top spot and the seeding that comes with it. Anything less leaves Wales as runners-up and therefore unseeded, meaning a tougher draw against a seeded League A or League B side.

Northern Ireland's campaign has ended in disappointment. A 2-1 defeat in Istanbul on Friday means they cannot overtake Turkey in second place in Group B2, leaving them third. As an unseeded League B third-placed team, they will face a seeded opponent in the play-offs — a difficult assignment.

Republic of Ireland add intrigue

Across the Irish Sea, the Republic of Ireland produced one of the standout results of the round, beating the Netherlands 3-2 to move second in Group A2. A win over current group leaders France on Tuesday would hand them top spot and a direct place in Brazil — a remarkable outcome if they can manage it.

The bigger picture

England have navigated play-off pressure before and emerged at major tournaments. The market will reflect their continued status as strong contenders to reach Brazil, and Wiegman's record since taking charge in 2021 provides every reason for confidence. The ideal outcome — topping the group and avoiding the play-off gauntlet entirely — is gone. The realistic outcome, reaching the World Cup via the longer route, remains very much on the table.

Frequently asked

Can England still qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Yes. If England finish as runners-up in Group A, they enter the European play-offs — two rounds of home-and-away ties. Winning both rounds would book their place at the tournament in Brazil.
When are the Women's World Cup qualifying play-off draws?
The draws for both rounds of the European play-offs are scheduled for 18 June 2026. First-round matches take place in October 2026, with the second round in late November and early December 2026.
Can Scotland qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Scotland cannot qualify automatically but can reach the World Cup through the European play-offs. They lead Group B4 and, if they top it on Tuesday, will be seeded for the play-off draw — giving them a more favourable path to Brazil.