Who says you have to wait four years? The Women’s World Cup is around the corner

The dust has barely settled on this summer’s men’s World Cup, but football’s biggest stage is already preparing for its next act. With just under a year to go, the road to the spectacle that is the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is already on the horizon. Kicking off on June 24 and running until July 25, the tournament heads to Brazil, marking the first time the Women’s World Cup has been held in South America and promising another summer of world-class football.

“We knew we would be celebrating a victory for South American women’s soccer and for women”, said Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, after the hosting vote. “You can be sure, with no vanity, we will accomplish the best World Cup for women.”

Brazil will host across eight cities, including Rio’s iconic Maracanã, becoming only the sixth nation to have staged both a men’s and women’s World Cup, joining the likes of the USA, Germany, France, and Canada. With almost 2 million fans in attendance in 2023 and a host nation famous for its footballing passion, there’s every chance Brazil 2027 breaks the records all over again.

13 nations out of the 32 have already qualified as they set their sights on lifting the trophy next summer

The format of the upcoming rendition of the tournament will stay at 32 teams from all six confederations for the second and final edition at this size with FIFA already confirming an expansion to 48 teams from 2031. Spain arrive as defending champions, having beaten England 1-0 in a tense final in 2023, though the Lionesses will want revenge, fresh off retaining their European crown at the last Euros in 2025.

So, who’s already secured their place? Alongside hosts Brazil, 13 nations out of the 32 have already qualified as they set their sights on lifting the trophy next summer. The Asian Football Confederation has sent six teams through following March’s Asian Cup, with Australia and Japan reaching the final and China, North Korea, South Korea, and the Philippines also booking their places. Securing CONMEBOL’S automatic spots are Argentina and Colombia, while New Zealand continued their extraordinary dominance of the Oceana Football Confederation qualifiers, winning all five of their matches and scoring 25 goals without conceding.

In Europe, Germany, Denmark, France, and Spain top their UEFA qualifying groups, meaning that they qualify automatically.

A year of football stands between now and Brazil, but the race is already on

In the meantime, the picture for qualifying is still forming as six African teams are yet to qualify, with four via WAFCON under way in Morocco right now and two more through FIFA’s play-off tournament. Nigeria arrives at WAFCON as ten-time defending champions, although Morocco, Ghana, and Zambia will be hoping to be triumphant.

Elsewhere, CONCACAF won’t confirm a qualifier until its Women’s Championship in November and December in Texas while UEFA’s remaining eight spots go through play-offs starting in October.

England are among the nations left to navigate the play-off route after they finished second behind Spain in their group stage. Their road now continues with Greece, with their first leg away on 9 October and the return four days later at home. A victory would mean a round two tie against the winner of Slovakia vs Ukraine awaiting in late November, with a place at the World Cup on the line.

A year of football stands between now and Brazil, but the race is already on.

England’s men fell just short this summer, beaten by Argentina in the semi-final before salvaging bronze – their best World Cup finish since 1966. Now attention turns to the Lionesses. Can they go one better in Brazil?