World Cup 2027
Who Are the Favorites for the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Quick answer
Spain are the favorites for the 2027 Women's World Cup. They are the reigning world champions, lead FIFA's October 20, 2026 ranking by almost 80 points and won the 2025 Nations League. The United States, Germany, England and Japan follow, and host Brazil are seventh. Nothing is settled until the December 11 draw, and four top-10 teams have not qualified yet.
On this page
- Who are the favorites right now?
- Which teams have won the big titles lately?
- Why are Spain the team to beat?
- Can the United States win a fifth title?
- What about England, Germany and Japan?
- Can Brazil win the World Cup at home?
- Which teams could surprise?
- Which favorites still have to qualify?
- When will the favorites become clearer?
- FAQ
- Sources
Eighteen of the 32 teams have a ticket to Brazil, the groups do not exist yet, and the next big matches are still weeks away. That makes this the right moment to ask who the favorites really are, using only what is already on the record: FIFA's ranking and the titles won in the last four years.
This guide is independent and not affiliated with FIFA. For the dates and the eight host cities, see my 2027 Women's World Cup schedule. I will update this page after the December 11 draw.
Who are the favorites right now?
FIFA's latest women's ranking came out on October 20, 2026. Spain are first, the United States second and Germany third, and the only change in the top ten was Denmark, which rose two places to tenth. The next update is due on December 7.
The gap at the top is the first number to remember. Spain have 2,121.50 points and the United States 2,042.38, so the world champions lead by almost 80 points, according to FIFA. The second thing to know is in the last column of the table: only six of the ten have qualified so far.
| Rank | Team | 2027 status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | Qualified, world champions |
| 2 | United States | Not yet: Concacaf W Championship, quarter-final v El Salvador on Nov. 27 |
| 3 | Germany | Qualified |
| 4 | England | Not yet: UEFA play-off v Ukraine, Nov. 26 and Dec. 5 |
| 5 | Japan | Qualified, Asian champions |
| 6 | France | Qualified |
| 7 | Brazil | Qualified, hosts |
| 8 | Sweden | Not yet: UEFA play-off v Scotland, Nov. 26 and Dec. 5 |
| 9 | Canada | Not yet: Concacaf W Championship, quarter-final v Panama on Nov. 28 |
| 10 | Denmark | Qualified |
FIFA's top 10, October 20, 2026, and each team's 2027 status. Ranking order from FIFA and ESPN; status is my tally from FIFA's list of qualified teams and the qualifying calendars.
The ranking is a good map, not a prediction. It rewards results over several years, and a World Cup is seven matches in a month. So I also look at who has actually won the big finals lately.
Which teams have won the big titles lately?
Six major finals have been played since the 2023 World Cup, and Spain played in three of them.
| Final | Winner | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Women's World Cup | Spain | England | 1-0 |
| 2024 Olympics (Paris) | United States | Brazil | 1-0 |
| 2025 Copa América | Brazil | Colombia | 4-4, Brazil on penalties |
| 2025 Euro | England | Spain | 1-1, England 3-1 on penalties |
| 2025 Nations League (Europe) | Spain | Germany | 3-0 on aggregate |
| 2026 Women's Asian Cup | Japan | Australia | 1-0 |
Recent finals in the women's game. Sources: FIFA, UEFA, beIN Sports and Just Women's Sports. Spain in three of six finals is my tally.
Two of the six finals went to penalties, which tells you how close the top of the game is. The clearest pattern is that Spain keep reaching finals, even when they do not win them.
Why are Spain the team to beat?
Because they have the title, the ranking and the recent form. Spain beat England 1-0 in the 2023 final in front of 75,784 people at Stadium Australia, and they are still first in the ranking three years later. In December 2025 they won the Nations League for the second time, 3-0 over Germany in Madrid after a 0-0 first leg in Kaiserslautern, with two goals from Clàudia Pina.
Their October 2026 trip to the United States was the best test of the year. They won the first match 2-0 and drew the second 2-2, after leading 2-0 at halftime, and the two results widened their lead in the ranking.
There is a catch. Spain lost the 2025 Euro final to England on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Germany beat them 1-0 in the 2024 Olympic bronze-medal match. My read: Spain are the favorites, but 80 points in a ranking is not a wall, and a knockout match can still be decided by one kick.
Can the United States win a fifth title?
They have the pedigree. The U.S. won the World Cup in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019, more than any other country, and they are the reigning Olympic champions after beating Brazil 1-0 in Paris in August 2024, with a goal from Mallory Swanson in the 57th minute. They are second in the ranking.
The warning sign is 2023, when they went out in the round of 16 against Sweden on penalties. And they have to get to Brazil first: they open the Concacaf W Championship against El Salvador on November 27. My guide to the USWNT's road to Brazil has the full path. I would not write them off, because a team that wins an Olympic final on a single goal knows how to win tight games.
What about England, Germany and Japan?
Each of the three has a different case:
- England are the European champions twice in a row. They beat Spain 3-1 on penalties in the 2025 final, with Hannah Hampton saving two, and UEFA notes they are only the second team to retain the title, after Germany. They are fourth in the ranking, but they are not in yet: the play-off against Ukraine is on November 26 and December 5.
- Germany are third, have qualified and have won two World Cups, in 2003 and 2007. They were the runners-up to Spain in the 2025 Nations League and took Olympic bronze in 2024. They are the steadiest of the group, without a recent big title.
- Japan are fifth, have qualified, and are the 2011 champions. In March they won their third Asian Cup, beating Australia 1-0 in front of a record crowd of 74,357 in Sydney, according to FIFA.
Can Brazil win the World Cup at home?
They can, but history and the ranking say they are not the favorites. Brazil are seventh, have never won the tournament and have a second place from 2007 as their best result. They did win the 2025 Copa América on penalties, and they took the 2024 Olympic silver.
Playing at home helps less than people think. In the nine World Cups so far, only one host has won the title: the United States in 1999. That is my tally from the list of past tournaments and hosts. For a full look at the squad, the coach and the 2026 results, read my guide to Brazil's chances as hosts.
Which teams could surprise?
Three names are worth watching. Denmark are back in the top ten for the first time since August 2010, after a win and a draw away to Canada, and they have already qualified. France are sixth and also qualified. Sweden, eighth, are the team that knocked out the United States in 2023, but they still need to win their play-off against Scotland.
It also helps to remember how few teams have ever won. Five countries have lifted the trophy in nine tournaments, as I explain in my history of the Women's World Cup winners. If I had to bet on the unexpected, I would look at the teams that arrive with momentum, not the ones with the best name.
Which favorites still have to qualify?
Four of the top ten: the United States, England, Sweden and Canada. All four play between November 26 and December 5, and a slip would change the picture of the tournament. The United States and Canada play in Texas, and England and Sweden in the European play-offs. The full format, with the play-off pairings and the 14 places still open, is in my guide to the teams that have qualified.
One detail matters: a team that loses its Concacaf quarter-final still has a second chance through a play-in, and not every European winner goes straight to Brazil. So an early loss does not always mean elimination.
When will the favorites become clearer?
In three steps. The new FIFA ranking is due on December 7, after the qualifiers. The final draw on December 11 in Rio de Janeiro will show who is in whose group, which is the only thing that really changes a team's road. And the last three places go to the Play-Off Tournament in February 2027.
If you are planning to travel, my advice is to book the basics now and the match tickets later. Check the tickets guide for how to register, and use the Brazil travel guide for the cities. Whoever the favorites are on June 24, the schedule and the stadiums will not change.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the favorites to win the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Spain, by the numbers: they are the reigning world champions, first in FIFA's October 20, 2026 ranking with 2,121.50 points, and 2025 Nations League winners. The United States, Germany, England and Japan are the next names.
Who is first in the FIFA Women's World Ranking?
Spain, with 2,121.50 points in the October 20, 2026 ranking, almost 80 points ahead of the United States (2,042.38). Germany is third. The next ranking is due on December 7, 2026.
Are the United States favorites to win in 2027?
They are among the top contenders, not the clear favorites. The U.S. is second in the ranking, has won four World Cups and is the Olympic champion, but it has not qualified yet and plays El Salvador on November 27, 2026.
Can Brazil win the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Yes, but Brazil are not the favorites. They are seventh in the ranking and have never won the tournament; their best result is second place in 2007. Only one host has won the World Cup in nine editions: the United States in 1999.
Which top teams have not qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup yet?
Four of FIFA's top ten: the United States, England, Sweden and Canada. They play their qualifiers between November 26 and December 5, 2026.
Who won the last Women's World Cup?
Spain, who beat England 1-0 in the 2023 final at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Spain has already qualified for 2027.
When will we know the 2027 Women's World Cup groups?
The final draw is on December 11, 2026, at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. It streams live on Netflix in the U.S.
Sources
- FIFA: Spain widen gap atop FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking, Malawi soar (Oct. 20, 2026)
- ESPN: FIFA Women's Top 50 World Rankings, October 2026
- UEFA: Spain retain title with 3-0 win against Germany (Dec. 2, 2025)
- UEFA: England 1-1 Spain (aet, 3-1 pens), Lionesses win Women's EURO 2025 final (July 27, 2025)
- beIN SPORTS: USWNT wins gold at Paris 2024 after defeating Brazil 1-0 (Aug. 10, 2024)
- FIFA: Japan triumph as AFC Women's Asian Cup sends strong signal for women's football (Mar. 2026)
- FIFA: FIFA celebrates 100 days since the Women's World Cup 2023 Final (Nov. 28, 2023)
- Just Women's Sports: Marta lifts Brazil over Colombia to win a 9th Copa América Femenina (Aug. 4, 2025)
- FIFA: Qualified teams for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 (18 of 32)
- Concacaf: 2026 W Championship schedule confirmed (Aug. 9, 2026)
- FIFA: England, Netherlands and Portugal progress in UEFA play-offs (Oct. 13, 2026)
- Wikipedia: List of FIFA Women's World Cup finals (champions and hosts), used to cross-check
Founder and editor, WoSo Arena
I live in Salvador, Brazil, one of the eight host cities of the 2027 Women's World Cup, and I spent five years in the United States, where girls' and women's games filled the parks and school fields of Los Angeles. Every article starts from official sources, listed at the end.
