World Cup 2027
Who Has Qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Quick answer
As of October 26, 2026, 18 of the 32 teams have qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup: hosts Brazil, plus Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, the Philippines, Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco, Argentina, Colombia, New Zealand, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain. The United States and Canada are not in yet. The last 14 places are decided between November 26 and February 2027.
On this page
- Which teams have qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup so far?
- How many places are still open?
- Will the United States and Canada qualify?
- Which European teams are still in the race?
- What is the Play-Off Tournament?
- Are there any first-time qualifiers?
- Which well-known teams have already missed out?
- When will we know all 32 teams?
- What does this mean if you are planning a trip to Brazil?
- FAQ
- Sources
Eighteen national teams already have their tickets to Brazil, and fourteen places are still open. Some of the biggest names, including the United States and Canada, will not know their fate until the first week of December.
This guide is independent and not affiliated with FIFA. It lists every team that has qualified, shows how each one got in, and explains how the last 14 places will be decided. The dates and cities of the tournament are in our 2027 Women's World Cup schedule.
Which teams have qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup so far?
According to FIFA's official list, read on October 26, 2026, 18 of the 32 teams are in. Brazil qualified automatically as hosts. Six teams came from Asia, four from Africa, two more from South America, one from Oceania and four from Europe. Nobody has qualified yet from North and Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf).
| Team | Region | How they qualified |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | South America | Hosts |
| Colombia | South America | Finished first in the CONMEBOL Women's Nations League |
| Argentina | South America | Finished second in the CONMEBOL Women's Nations League |
| Australia | Asia | Won a quarter-final at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup |
| China | Asia | Won a quarter-final at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup |
| South Korea | Asia | Won a quarter-final at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup |
| Japan | Asia | Won a quarter-final at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup |
| Philippines | Asia | Won a play-in match at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup, 2-0 over Uzbekistan |
| North Korea | Asia | Won a play-in match at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup, 4-0 over Chinese Taipei |
| Cameroon | Africa | Reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, then won the title |
| Malawi | Africa | Reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations |
| Algeria | Africa | Reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations |
| Morocco | Africa | Reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Won the Oceania final, 1-0 over Papua New Guinea in Auckland |
| Spain | Europe | Won its group in League A of the UEFA qualifiers |
| Germany | Europe | Won its group in League A of the UEFA qualifiers |
| France | Europe | Won its group in League A of the UEFA qualifiers |
| Denmark | Europe | Won its group in League A of the UEFA qualifiers |
The 18 teams that have qualified, as of October 26, 2026. Source: FIFA's list of qualified teams and its reports on each confederation.
One of them is the defending champion: Spain won the 2023 tournament in Sydney. The United States still holds the record with four titles, and that is part of why its qualifying match in November will get so much attention.
How many places are still open?
Fourteen. FIFA gave the tournament 32 places, and the table below shows where the remaining ones come from. Seven go to Europe, four to Concacaf, and three to a separate Play-Off Tournament that brings together teams from every region.
| Region | Direct places | Filled | Still open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia (AFC) | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Africa (CAF) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| South America (CONMEBOL, including Brazil) | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Oceania (OFC) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Europe (UEFA) | 11 | 4 | 7 |
| North and Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf) | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Play-Off Tournament | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 32 | 18 | 14 |
Direct places by region and how many are still open. The filled and open counts are our tally from FIFA's slot allocation and its list of qualified teams, as of October 26, 2026.
In other words, the field is already settled in Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania, apart from the three play-off places that teams from those regions can still win.
Will the United States and Canada qualify?
They have to win in Texas first. The United States and Canada, the two highest-ranked teams in Concacaf, play in the 2026 Concacaf W Championship, together with Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Haiti, Panama and El Salvador. It runs from November 27 to December 5 at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield and at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
The format is simple. The four quarter-final winners qualify directly for Brazil. The four losers go to a play-in on December 2, and the two winners of those games get a place in the Play-Off Tournament. The quarter-finals were set by FIFA's April 2026 ranking, with the highest-ranked team facing the lowest.
| Date | Match | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Jamaica v Costa Rica | 5:00 p.m. |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | United States v El Salvador | 8:30 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Canada v Panama | 1:00 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Mexico v Haiti | 4:30 p.m. |
Concacaf W Championship quarter-finals. Kick-off times are U.S. Eastern time, from Concacaf's schedule.
Even a bad day is not the end for a team that loses a quarter-final, because of the play-in. Still, the pressure is real: the United States has played in all nine Women's World Cups so far, and Canada in eight. Mexico missed the last two, and its quarter-final against Haiti, which played in 2023, is a direct fight for a place in Brazil.
In the U.S., Concacaf lists CBS Sports Golazo Network and Paramount+ in English and TelevisaUnivision in Spanish as the broadcast partners. Check your local listings, since the schedule can change. For the 2027 tournament itself, see how to watch the Women's World Cup in the U.S.
Which European teams are still in the race?
Sixteen, down from 32. Germany, Denmark, France and Spain are already in, and the other seven direct places go to the winners of the UEFA play-offs. The first round was played on October 9 and 13, and the second round is next.
Each second-round tie pairs a team from Path 1 with a team from Path 2, over two legs: first legs on November 26 and second legs on December 5. The Path 1 team is the seeded side and plays the second leg at home.
| Seeded team (plays second leg at home) | Opponent |
|---|---|
| England | Ukraine |
| Italy | Finland |
| Iceland | Portugal |
| Norway | Wales |
| Austria | Switzerland |
| Sweden | Scotland |
| Republic of Ireland | Poland |
| Netherlands | Slovenia |
UEFA play-offs, second round: first legs Nov. 26, second legs Dec. 5, 2026. Source: FIFA's report of Oct. 13, 2026.
There is a catch. Winning the second round does not automatically book a ticket for all eight winners. Only the seven winners with the best overall ranking from the qualifiers go straight to Brazil. The eighth goes to the Play-Off Tournament in February 2027.
What is the Play-Off Tournament?
It is FIFA's last chance for ten teams, and it awards three places. Two teams come from each of Asia, Africa, Concacaf and South America, and one each from Oceania and Europe.
It has two phases. The preliminary phase is played in Rabat, Morocco, from November 28 to December 5, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. Six teams play nine matches, each team plays three, and the top two move on:
- Asia: Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei
- Africa: South Africa and Ghana
- Oceania: Papua New Guinea
- South America: Ecuador
The first matchday on November 28 is Chinese Taipei v South Africa, Uzbekistan v Papua New Guinea and Ghana v Ecuador. The final phase is played in February 2027 at a single location. The two preliminary winners join two Concacaf teams, one European team and Venezuela, the other South American team, which does not play in the preliminary phase.
Those six teams are drawn into three paths, and each path is one knockout match. The three winners go to Brazil. Teams from the same region cannot be drawn on the same path.
Are there any first-time qualifiers?
Yes, one so far. Malawi reached the World Cup in its first appearance at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, beating Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals and Algeria 3-1 in the semi-finals before losing the final to Cameroon. FIFA calls it the country's first-ever Women's World Cup place.
Others are returning or extending long runs:
- North Korea is back for the first time since 2011.
- The Philippines qualified for a second straight World Cup after debuting in 2023.
- New Zealand will play a sixth World Cup in a row.
- Cameroon returns for a third time, after 2015 and 2019, as the new African champion.
Which well-known teams have already missed out?
The biggest name is Nigeria. The ten-time African champions had played at every Women's World Cup, but they lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the WAFCON quarter-finals and then 2-1 to South Africa in the play-in for a Play-Off Tournament place, so their run ends at nine.
In Europe, 16 teams were eliminated in the first play-off round in October. Among them are Belgium, which lost to Poland on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate, plus Czechia, Türkiye and Romania. Ghana, a three-time qualifier, is still alive in the preliminary phase.
When will we know all 32 teams?
Not before February. Four pieces still have to fall into place, and the last one comes after the draw:
| Dates | What is decided | Places |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 26 to Dec. 5 | UEFA play-offs, second round | 7 direct places, 1 to the Play-Off Tournament |
| Nov. 27 to Dec. 5 | Concacaf W Championship in Texas | 4 direct places, 2 to the Play-Off Tournament |
| Nov. 28 to Dec. 5 | Play-Off Tournament, preliminary phase in Rabat | Top 2 advance |
| Dec. 11 | Final draw at the Museum of Modern Art, Rio | Groups set |
| February 2027 | Play-Off Tournament, final phase | 3 direct places |
What is left of the road to Brazil. Dates from FIFA, Concacaf and UEFA, as of October 26, 2026.
I will update this guide after December 5, when the Concacaf and European qualifiers end, and again after the February play-off. The tournament itself starts on June 24, 2027.
What does this mean if you are planning a trip to Brazil?
For now, plan around the cities, not the teams. Brazil's opening matches are fixed, but most opponents are not, and the groups will only exist after the December 11 draw. I live in Salvador, one of the eight host cities, and the advice I would give a visitor is the same: do not book a flight to follow one team until the draw is done.
What you can do today is the paperwork. Start with the Brazil visa guide for Americans, register your interest for tickets as explained in the 2027 Women's World Cup tickets guide, and read the guide to traveling to Brazil for the World Cup. You can also browse all our guides, and the About page explains who writes them.
Frequently asked questions
Which teams have qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup?
As of October 26, 2026, 18 of 32 teams: Brazil (hosts), Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, the Philippines, Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco, Argentina, Colombia, New Zealand, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain.
How many teams are in the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Thirty-two teams play 64 matches in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027. Eighteen have qualified so far, and 14 places are still open.
Has the USWNT qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup?
Not yet. The United States plays El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship quarter-finals on November 27, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. ET in Mansfield, Texas. A win qualifies the team directly. A loss sends it to a play-in on December 2.
When do the remaining teams qualify?
Between November 26 and December 5, 2026, the European play-offs, the Concacaf W Championship and the first phase of the Play-Off Tournament are played. The final three places are decided in February 2027.
How many European teams are still to qualify?
Seven direct places remain, plus one place in the Play-Off Tournament. Germany, Denmark, France and Spain have already qualified. Sixteen teams are left in the play-offs, with second-round first legs on November 26 and second legs on December 5.
What is the Play-Off Tournament?
A FIFA tournament that gives the last three places. Ten teams take part: two each from Asia, Africa, Concacaf and South America, and one each from Oceania and Europe. A preliminary phase is played in Rabat from November 28 to December 5, and the final phase in February 2027.
Has Nigeria qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup?
No. Nigeria lost to Cameroon in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals and then to South Africa in the play-in for the Play-Off Tournament, so it will miss a Women's World Cup for the first time.
Who is the defending champion?
Spain, which won the 2023 Women's World Cup in Sydney. Spain has already qualified for 2027 after winning its group in the UEFA qualifiers.
Sources
- FIFA: Qualified teams for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 (18 of 32), read Oct. 26, 2026
- FIFA: Everything you need to know about the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 (places by region and Play-Off Tournament), read Oct. 26, 2026
- FIFA: Everything you need to know about Concacaf qualifying (Apr. 18, 2026)
- Concacaf: 2026 W Championship schedule confirmed (Aug. 9, 2026)
- FIFA: England, Netherlands and Portugal progress in UEFA play-offs (Oct. 13, 2026)
- FIFA: Remaining European slots up for grabs in play-offs (Oct. 7, 2026)
- FIFA: Rabat to host the Play-Off Tournament preliminary phase (Oct. 20, 2026)
- FIFA: Cameroon crowned African champions as quartet qualify (Aug. 16, 2026)
- FIFA: Cameroon and Malawi punch tickets to Brazil 2027 (Aug. 9, 2026)
- FIFA: Korea DPR and Philippines punch Women's World Cup tickets (Mar. 18, 2026)
- FIFA: New Zealand secure Women's World Cup berth (Apr. 14, 2026)
- FIFA: Ecuador and Venezuela reach Play-Off Tournament (Jun. 9, 2026)
- FIFA: Mexico show resilience ahead of crunch qualifier (Oct. 14, 2026)
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.
