The European qualifying picture for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup took a major turn in Matchday 5, with Spain’s dominant win over England standing out as the clearest headline. Several other favorites also handled business, but a few surprise results made the final round feel much more open than expected.
With one matchday left before the playoff bracket is finalized, the stakes are now clear: direct qualification, seeding, and survival in the campaign’s next phase are all still in play.
The biggest results from the night
Spain produced the statement performance of the round, overwhelming England 4-0 in Group A3. That result did more than add three points; it changed the tone of the entire group and sent a warning to the rest of the field.
Other established contenders also delivered strong wins. Germany beat Norway 2-0, France controlled Poland 2-0, and Italy responded with a convincing 3-0 victory over Serbia. At the same time, the Republic of Ireland delivered one of the most memorable results of qualifying by edging the Netherlands 3-2.
- Spain 4-0 England: the standout result of Matchday 5
- Republic of Ireland 3-2 Netherlands: a major upset
- Germany 2-0 Norway: a steady, professional win
- France 2-0 Poland: clean and efficient
- Italy 3-0 Serbia: a strong rebound performance
Complete Matchday 5 results
League A
Group A1
- Italy 3-0 Serbia
- Denmark 2-1 Sweden
Group A2
- Poland 0-2 France
- Republic of Ireland 3-2 Netherlands
Group A3
- Ukraine 0-1 Iceland
- Spain 4-0 England
Group A4
- Austria 1-0 Slovenia
- Germany 2-0 Norway
League B
Group B1
- Czechia 1-1 Albania
- Montenegro 1-1 Wales
Group B2
- Türkiye 2-1 Northern Ireland
- Switzerland 6-1 Malta
Group B3
- Slovakia 0-4 Finland
- Portugal 5-0 Latvia
Group B4
- Scotland 6-0 Israel
- Belgium 6-0 Luxembourg
League C
Group C1
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-0 Lithuania
- Liechtenstein 0-5 Estonia
Group C2
- Bulgaria 3-1 Gibraltar
- Kosovo 0-1 Croatia
Group C3
- Azerbaijan 1-2 Hungary
- Andorra 0-1 North Macedonia
Group C4
- Georgia 2-3 Faroe Islands
Group C5
- Moldova 0-0 Romania
Group C6
- Armenia 1-1 Kazakhstan
Why Matchday 6 matters so much
The final group stage round arrives on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and it will decide who moves forward with momentum and who is forced into the next stage under pressure. Some groups already look nearly settled, but several remain tight enough that one result could reshape the standings completely.
The most important games sit in League A, where the top-level contenders continue to battle for position. In particular, Group A3 has become must-watch territory after Spain’s emphatic win over England.
Featured fixtures to watch
- England vs. Ukraine and Iceland vs. Spain in Group A3
- France vs. Republic of Ireland after Ireland’s shock win over the Netherlands
- Sweden vs. Italy in a group that still has useful seeding implications
- Norway vs. Austria and Slovenia vs. Germany in Group A4
- Finland vs. Portugal and Luxembourg vs. Belgium in League B
The full Matchday 6 schedule
League A
- Sweden vs. Italy, 19:00
- Serbia vs. Denmark, 19:00
- France vs. Republic of Ireland, 21:00
- Netherlands vs. Poland, 21:00
- England vs. Ukraine, 21:00
- Iceland vs. Spain, 21:00
- Norway vs. Austria, 18:00
- Slovenia vs. Germany, 18:00
League B
- Wales vs. Czechia, 19:00
- Albania vs. Montenegro, 19:00
- Northern Ireland vs. Switzerland, 19:00
- Malta vs. Türkiye, 19:00
- Finland vs. Portugal, 19:00
- Latvia vs. Slovakia, 19:00
- Luxembourg vs. Belgium, 19:00
- Israel vs. Scotland, 19:00
League C
- Estonia vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 19:00
- Lithuania vs. Liechtenstein, 19:00
- Croatia vs. Bulgaria, 19:00
- Gibraltar vs. Kosovo, 19:00
- Hungary vs. Andorra, 19:00
- North Macedonia vs. Azerbaijan, 19:00
- Georgia vs. Greece, 19:00
- Cyprus vs. Moldova, 19:00
- Belarus vs. Armenia, 19:00
What comes after the group stage
Once the group phase ends, the teams that do not qualify automatically will move into the playoff route. The draw for those ties is scheduled for June 18, 2026, and the next stage will determine which teams can still keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The playoff calendar is spread across several months, so the pressure will not end with the final whistle on Matchday 6.
- Playoff Round 1: October 7 to October 13, 2026
- Playoff Round 2: November 25 to December 5, 2026
- Inter-confederation playoffs: February 2027
The destination remains Brazil
The prize for surviving Europe’s qualifying system is a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, which will run from June 24 to July 25, 2027. Because this will be the first Women’s World Cup staged in South America, the road there carries added significance for every team still alive in the competition.
Spain’s crushing win over England, Ireland’s upset of the Netherlands, and the high-scoring routs elsewhere all served the same reminder: there is very little margin for error now, and the final standings can still shift in dramatic ways before the playoff stage begins.
