In the second round of the qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Turkey, Ukraine lost a nominal home match against current world champions Spain in Antalya.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. Group A3

Ukraine — Spain — 1:3 (0:2)

Goals: Ovdiychuk (76) — Imade (44), Corralles (45+3), Lopez (55, from a penalty).

Ukraine: Kelyshyk, Shainyuk (Kryvchuk, 46), Kotyk, Olekhova, Shamtko, Yevkova (Basanska, 37), Podolska, Kalyna (capt) (Kogut, 66), Petrik (Zaborovets, 66), Ovdiychuk (Gluschenko, 83), Hirin.

Spain: Misa, J. Fernandez, Mendes (M. Fernandez, 63), Codina, Corralles, Lopez (Gararro, 63), Sarrazordi, Putelyas (Januzzzi, 46), Parralelo (Navarro, 46), Imade, del Castilo (Vinola, 77).

Yellow cards: Kotyk (45+1) — J. Fernandez (74).

3 March. Antalya (Turkey). Stadium "Mardan".

England — Iceland — 2:0

Photo: Dan Balashov

Group A3 tournament table

Schedule of matches in Group A3 for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier

1st round. 3 March 2026 

Ukraine — England — 1:6

Spain — Iceland — 3:0

2nd round. 7 March 2026 

Ukraine — Spain — 1:3

England — Iceland — 2:0

3rd round. 14 April 2026

Iceland — Ukraine

England — Spain

4th round. 18 April 2026

Spain — Ukraine

Iceland — England

5th round. 5 June 2026

Ukraine — Iceland

Spain — England

6th round. 9 June 2026

England — Ukraine

Iceland — Spain      

It is worth noting that the FIFA Council has approved that the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil will take place from 24 June to 25 July. There will be 29 direct qualifiers out of 32, distributed as follows:

• Europe — 11;
• Asia — 6;
• Africa — 4;
• North and Central America (CONCACAF) — 4;
• South America — 3 (Brazil will automatically qualify from this quota);
• Oceania — 1.

The three remaining spots will be determined in a play-off involving 10 national teams. The play-off will consist of two stages with the following quotas:

• Europe — 1;
• Asia — 2;
• Africa — 2;
• North and Central America (CONCACAF) — 2;
• South America — 2;
• Oceania — 1.

The first stage of the play-off will take place in October–December 2026, and the second in February 2027.

European Qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup

The European qualification will take place in three stages. The group round matches will be played on 3rd and 7th March, 14th and 18th April, 5th and 9th June 2026 in three leagues — A (16 teams), B (16) and C (21).

The starting position of each team in the leagues is determined based on the results of Nations League 2025. Ukraine will play in League A.

The top four teams from Group A of the Nations League 2027 will qualify directly for the World Cup.

The remaining quotas will be distributed in the play-off rounds in October–December 2026. In the first round, teams that occupy second and third places in League A will play against winners of six groups from League C and top teams that occupy second place there. Eight winners advance to the second round.

The four bottom teams from League A and four winners from Group B will play against third and fourth placed teams from Group B respectively. Eight winners advance to the second round.

In the second round, 16 teams will meet in eight pairs. Seven best winners qualify for the World Cup, while the eighth has to participate in a continental play-off.