UEFA is gearing up for the 2027 World Cup, as England and Spain sparred for one of four automatic berths at this week’s Women’s European Qualifiers.
England landed the first blow against reigning champion Spain on Tuesday. The Lionesses defeated their continental rival 1-0 behind a Lauren Hemp strike to sit atop the league stage’s Group A4.
"Against Spain, you need to defend as a team really well, because their individual qualities are so high," said Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman. "We tried to annoy them a little bit and let them make mistakes."
"Everybody knows you can't go toe-to-toe with Spain for possession," added England midfielder Keira Walsh. "Our plan was to sit in a low block and when we had a chance, go forward. They had chances at the end but they're an unbelievable team."
How UEFA Women's European Qualifiers Set the World Cup Field
The Women's European Qualifiers run through December 2026, determining which European teams compete in the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. However, the tournament also impacts promotion and relegation ahead of the UEFA Women's Nations League, kicking off in 2027.
Four-group League A features Europe’s Top 16 teams — with each group’s winner earning a direct path to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
League A’s remaining 12 teams advance to end-of-year playoffs fielding UEFA’s seven additional berths, with second- and third-place finishers facing lower-ranked nations via top seeding.
Tuesday’s other UEFA Qualifying winners include Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, with three league-stage matchdays to go.
How to Watch European Teams at UEFA World Cup Qualifiers
UEFA Women's European Qualifiers return on Saturday, as England takes on Iceland at 12:30 PM GMT on ITVX in the UK.
Group A's Saturday lineup also features Denmark vs Italy, France vs Netherlands, and Austria vs Germany. See full schedule at UEFA.com.
World Cup qualifiers are underway across multiple continents, with teams already securing places in the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Brazil automatically qualifies as the host nation, while early spots have been claimed through Asian qualifiers. Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and North Korea booked their places via March's 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
The 2027 FIFA tournament will feature 32 teams, with 31 qualifying through regional competitions. Europe leads the tally with 11 available spots, while the AFC sends six teams. CONCACAF and CAF each yield at least four guaranteed places, while CONMEBOL will send three teams in addition to Brazil. The OFC will have one direct qualifier, with three final spots decided via inter-confederation playoffs.
The structure creates a staggered qualifying timeline across the next calendar year.
The next qualifiers will come from Oceania in April 2026. New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and American Samoa will compete in a single-elimination format, with the winner advancing directly and the runner-up moving on to the playoffs.
Africa's process shifts to later in the year. CAF will now determine its World Cup teams at August's WAFCON in August after rescheduling the final tournament rounds.
Meanwhile, Europe and South America will begin to finalize spots this summer. UEFA will send four group-stage winners directly, with the remaining places decided through playoffs. CONMEBOL's top two teams will qualify automatically, with additional teams entering the playoff system.
CONCACAF qualifying follows in November through the W Championship, with both the USWNT and Canada already in position to compete for automatic berths.
The final three spots are decided in February 2027 through inter-confederation playoffs.
The 2027 Women's World Cup kicks off on June 24th, 2027 in Brazil, before the final takes center stage on July 25th.
England named 17-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson to its latest squad, handing the midfielder a surprise call-up for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland.
Parkinson plays for Portuguese top-flight side Valadares Gaia and has previously been involved in England’s youth teams. She joins the senior group as manager Sarina Wiegman looks to reshape the midfield, with Grace Clinton, Ella Toone, and Aggie Beever-Jones all sidelined with injuries.
Beth Mead, meanwhile, is set to return after missing England’s last two World Cup qualifying wins over Ukraine and Iceland.
According to Wiegman, Parkinson earned the opportunity.
“She’s a very dynamic attacking midfielder and wants to go forward,” said the fifth-year Lionesses coach. “She’s very aggressive and pretty technical.”
Wiegman added that the teenager is not expected to move straight into the starting lineup.
“It’s a learning thing for her, but I do hope she can adapt quickly to the level that’s needed in our senior environment,” she said.
This month’s roster also included captain Leah Williamson despite a recent hamstring issue. Wiegman specified the Arsenal defender “had some small setbacks,” but is progressing well.
When Is the 2027 Women's World Cup?
The 32-team Women’s World Cup kicks off on June 24th, 2027 in Brazil.
The Lionesses currently sit atop Group A3 after tallying wins over Ukraine (6-1) and Iceland (2-0).
The 2027 Women's World Cup is taking shape, as FIFA introduced the tournament's official branding at a ceremony in host country Brazil on Sunday.
The first-ever iteration of the tournament in South America will adopt the slogan "GO EPIC," an imperative that "calls on fans everywhere to be part of an unforgettable adventure."
Additionally, the branding of the competition's 10th edition includes a sonic identity "inspired by Brazilian rhythms, samba-infused percussion, and Afro-Brazilian heritage."
"Brazil lives and breathes football, and you can feel the excitement here about welcoming the world and hosting a historic event," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the governing body's launch event in the famed Copacabana neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. "You can also feel something even more powerful, as this country is fully committed to making this a watershed moment for the women's game."
The logo pays homage to the Brazilian flag as well as the shape of a soccer pitch, with the design featuring a letter W and its inversion, a letter M — uniting the English words "women" and "world" with their Portuguese counterparts "mulheres" and "mundo."
"Football is about love and Brazil loves football," said Brazil soccer legend Marta, the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, in a video message at Sunday's event. "Our country is ready to embrace the women's game with pride, emotion and belief."
Calling her country's hosting duties "a dream come true," fellow Brazil icon Formiga — the only athlete, man or woman, to compete in seven World Cups — said Sunday that "2027 will be about opening doors. This World Cup will show girls everywhere they belong on the biggest stage."
The upcoming Netflix feature film about the 1999 USWNT World Cup team has landed a lead, with Deadline confirming on Wednesday that the streaming giant is tapping actor Emily Bader to play star forward Mia Hamm in The 99'ers.
The 29-year-old most recently starred in People We Meet on Vacation, which made its debut at No. 1 on Netflix last week.
Bader previously enjoyed a breakout turn in the Prime historical drama My Lady Jane, which dropped in June 2024.
Calling her role in The 99'ers "a dream come true," Bader celebrated her Netflix casting in her Instagram Stories on Wednesday.
"Growing up playing soccer and being so inspired by @miahamm," she wrote.
Netflix first acquired the rights to The Girls of Summer: The US Women's Soccer Team and How It Changed the World — a 2000 book by Jeré Longman — back in 2020, with the project officially going into development in May 2025.
Known for her directorial prowess on Sirens on Netflix as well as her Emmy and Director's Guild Award-winning work on HBO's Watchmen, Nicole Kassell will direct The 99'ers.
Kassell will work off a script penned by Katie Lovejoy (Love at First Sight, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 3), Dana Stevens (The Woman King, Fatherhood), and Peter Hedges (Ben Is Back).
Helmed by Liza Chasin from 3Dot Productions, The 99'ers boasts a production team that includes Hayley Stool, Ross Greenburg, Marla Messing, Jill Mazursky, and Krista Smith.
While no timeline for production or distribution are available, Netflix will likely aim to use the film to bolster its coverage of the the upcoming World Cups in light of the streamer recently snagging the exclusive US broadcast rights to both the 2027 and 2031 tournaments.
The USWNT set the 2026 SheBelieves Cup scene this week, announcing the annual friendly tournament's full four-team field as well as scheduling details ahead of its 11th iteration.
The world No. 2 US will host No. 30 Argentina in Nashville, Tennessee, No. 10 Canada in Columbus, Ohio, and No. 20 Colombia in Harrison, New Jersey, this March as they continue to hone their roster ahead of November's World Cup-qualifying Concacaf W Championship.
"These are three teams that will likely be in the World Cup in 2027, and of course we'll likely see Canada in World Cup qualifying at the end of the year," said US manager Emma Hayes in Wednesday's press release. "Focusing on our continued preparations and growth as a team, the SheBelieves Cup is of great value."
The grand finale of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup will also double as a retirement tribute, with the USWNT set to hold a pre-match ceremony honoring legendary forward Tobin Heath in her home state of New Jersey.
Heath earned 181 caps for the US from 2008 to 2021, scoring 36 goals while picking up two World Cup wins (2015, 2019) and two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012).
The USWNT will drop its January camp roster on Thursday, tapping the lineup that will contend in two international friendlies against No. 46 Paraguay and No. 47 Chile at the end of the month.
How to attend the 2026 SheBelieves Cup
A myriad of presales for the annual tournament kick off on Thursday, with all tickets going on sale at 10 AM local venue time on Monday.
Fans can snag seats to all SheBelieves matches at USSoccer.com.
As the world of women’s soccer approaches 2026, the last year may well be remembered for its dynasties.
Chelsea won a sixth straight WSL title, Euros champion England and Copa winner Brazil retained their continental crowns, and Gotham FC lifted a second NWSL trophy in three years.
The winds of change also began to blow in new directions, with Arsenal upsetting Barcelona to win the Champions League final, top NWSL talent departing the US for opportunities overseas, and Kansas City reminding everyone what happens when regular-season dominance meets playoff vulnerability.
Through it all the game continued to grow, with increasingly interesting results on both sides of the pond, as the ramp-up to the 2027 World Cup and a new slate of regional competitions coincide with an ever-shifting economic landscape
So instead of looking back, we’re keeping the spirit of progress alive by presenting five bold predictions for women’s soccer in 2026.
Sophia Wilson’s return: A top contender for 2026 NWSL MVP
News of USWNT Sophia Wilson’s impending return to the Portland Thorns gave NWSL fans a boost earlier this month, with the Triple Espresso forward signing a single-year extension with her original club team.
Expect Wilson to hit the ground running as she comes back from pregnancy. The 2022 NWSL MVP has been very consistent throughout her career, and she’ll be joined by other returning Thorns attackers to bolster her opportunities in front of goal.
Fellow extended Portland star Olivia Moultrie will be paramount to the 25-year-old’s MVP campaign, especially as Wilson looks to challenge two-time reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga.
Don’t bet against Wilson showing shades of Alex Morgan’s 2023 Golden Boot run. That's when the USWNT legend blew past expectations for what new mothers could achieve in their first season back on the pitch.
No repeat champs: Why the women's soccer guards are changing in 2026
Reigning WSL winner Chelsea’s repeat bid is already shaky, with Everton snapping their 34-game unbeaten streak earlier this month. And they’re preparing to enter the new year six points behind Manchester City in the league table.
Blues manager Sonia Bompastor has seemed to prefer a static roster rotation. Of course, she’s charged with managing players from two eras: ex-coach Emma Hayes’s success and the team’s modern iteration. If there was a time for a changing of the WSL guard, 2026 is the year.
Stateside, 2025 NWSL Shield winners Kansas City continue to navigate offseason changes. The Current will start 2026 under brand new leadership, after former head coach Vlatko Andonovski announced he’ll move to a Sporting Director role.
ESPN recently reported Kansas City’s plan to hire former MLS head coach Chris Armas in 2026. But without a formal announcement and the offseason clock ticking, the Current might run out of runway to set up a repeat bid.
2025 NWSL champion Gotham has both FIFA and Concacaf Champions Cup commitments this year, complicating their quest as they maneuver a jam-packed season. The club landed one major re-signing in Midge Purce, but forward Ella Stevens departed for expansion side Boston. Thus, the team is left relying on a title-winning core with an average age over 28.
Arsenal hasn’t looked too terribly far off their Champions League game yet. But the subsequent resurgence of Barcelona and OL Lyonnes could see the WSL on the outside looking in once the tournament reaches May's final.
Despite having a few worthy clubs — including strong newcomers Manchester United — the UK league’s chances of claiming another UWCL title appear overshadowed by mainland Europe’s renewed dominance.
Emma Hayes's USWNT: Expect major roster overhauls in 2026
USWNT coach Emma Hayes embraced change in 2025, giving 43 players their first national team cap this year — the most since 2001.
Though the approach came with some speed bumps. The US matching the single-year total loss record with three dropped matches.
Considering Hayes’s approach, it seems that the future of the USWNT has arrived much sooner than expected. And looking back, those losses actually made an emphatic argument for more lineup overhauls — not less.
The team’s November loss to Portugal showcased a veteran midfield trio in Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Heaps, and Sam Coffey. The lineup exposed the old guard’s weaknesses as the team looks to hold ground among the world’s elite.
Remember — Hayes made the call to leave Alex Morgan off the gold medal-winning 2024 Olympic roster. In doing so, she laid the groundwork for even bigger calls as the US gears up for a tough World Cup qualifying run in 2026.
The global talent war: NWSL salary cap faces European threats
The NWSL closes 2025 with flashy off-field headlines and waning on-field enthusiasm, as it attempts to grapple with a rash of overseas departures.
They’ve even gone so far as to institute a new “High Impact Player” rule allowing teams to exceed the salary cap for top talent. The move comes after rejecting the Washington Spirit’s blockbuster play for superstar striker Trinity Rodman.
Viewed as a half-measure to circumvent larger salary cap issues, the NWSL Players Association has come out against the newly approved mechanism.
The union is advocating for the league to raise the base salary cap across the board. This will help clubs keep up in an increasingly competitive global market without destroying parity.
Whether or not the two parties will reach a compromise remains to be seen. Meantime, it leaves NWSL fans to hope for a solution as wealthy European clubs continue to draw top free agents away from the US league.
Of course, money isn’t everything. Raising the salary cap won’t guarantee NWSL favorites remain Stateside, as another league’s pull features more than just a pay bump. Thoughugh should the NWSL figure things out in time, US clubs might bring in a few big names themselves.
Regardless, expect more players to test their abilities in new environments when the transfer window opens back up in January. And it's especially pressing considering the looming World Cup and its national team implications.
The 2026 Men’s World Cup will transform women’s soccer
International soccer’s largest event lands in the US next year, as the 2026 Men’s World Cup promises to reshape football fandom in this country and beyond.
The NWSL remains bullish on the tournament’s ability to convert soccer fans across gender lines. Though the competition itself is subsequently bound to have a serious and immediate impact on the women’s game.
The NWSL plans to pause for the duration of next summer’s World Cup. This is in part due to infrastructural strains, as the tournament takes over venues shared between men’s and women’s club teams. The USWNT’s World Cup qualifying campaign will also hit the breaks, rendering the team’s summer international windows largely meaningless.
And with Concacaf qualifiers kicking off immediately after the 2026 NWSL Championship, top players will have to balance commitments at the end of a long year.
No matter how the 2026 World Cup ends up influencing US soccer culture, it will inevitably present some challenges as the domestic women’s game pushes to be more than an afterthought alongside the sport’s biggest stage.
The USWNT is gearing up for the new year, with US Soccer announcing Tuesday that the world No. 2 team will take on No. 45 Chile in the second of their two January friendlies.
Three days following their 2026 debut against No. 41 Paraguay in Los Angeles, the USWNT will face Chile some 100 miles north at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara on January 27th — the senior national team's first-ever match in the California city.
"Playing in a city for the first time is not a common occurrence at this point in our history, so I know our players will enjoy being in beautiful Santa Barbara," US manager Emma Hayes said in Tuesday's press release.
"Our staff are really looking forward to January camp and these matches against two tough South American countries," Hayes continued. "This is the start of an important year for our team and, as always, we're focused on maximizing every minute we get with the players."
While Chile already began their 2027 World Cup journey in their confederation's ongoing qualifying tournament, the USWNT will spend much of 2026 gearing up for November's final eight-team Concacaf competition to punch their ticket to the Brazil-hosted world championship.
The most recent of the US's three total clashes with Chile came at the the 2019 World Cup in Paris, resulting in a 3-0 group-stage win for the USWNT.
How to buy tickets to the January 2026 USWNT friendlies
A myriad of presale opportunities for both January 2026 friendlies will become available starting at 1 PM ET on Wednesday, with general sales opening at 1 PM ET on Friday.
Fans can purchase tickets to both matches via US Soccer.
US Soccer submitted its World Cup bid book to FIFA last week, naming 14 US stadiums among the 2031 tournament's 20+ proposed North American host venues.
The four-country joint bid for the 2031 World Cup spanned cities across host nations USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica, with the quartet collectively identifying 50 potential stadiums while also designating their proposed core of 20 venues.
In the US, stadiums in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Seattle made the proposed shortlist, as well as Arlington, Texas, and East Rutherford, New Jersey, among others.
Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Torreón made Mexico's primary proposal, while Costa Rica and Jamaica put forward San Jose and Kingston, respectively.
The bid includes both soccer and football venues, with secondary venues also listed as possible options in eight of the first-choice US cities.
Additionally, the bid book pegged Atlanta as the World Cup draw host and Dallas as the tournament's international broadcast center, though FIFA will likely not make final decisions on 2031 venues until after the 2027 competition in Brazil.
"By proposing more than the required 20 sites, the joint bidders demonstrate a commitment to securing the best possible hosting conditions and ensuring the tournament represents the full diversity of our region on a global scale," FIFA stated.
World No. 1 Spain will take aim at a second-straight UEFA Nations League title this week, as La Roja take on No. 5 Germany in the first leg of the 2025 tournament's final at 2:30 PM ET on Friday.
The defending Nations League champions booked their spot in the 2025 final by dismantling No. 3 Sweden 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinal round, while Germany advanced after a tense 3-2 aggregate win over No. 6 France.
Germany must also contend with availability issues during Friday's match, as 28-year-old Bayern Munich forward and senior national team leading scorer Lea Schüller will be out due to family reasons.
To overcome that disadvantage, German head coach Christian Wück is reinforcing the team's back line, adding Athletic Bilbao defender Bibi Schulze Solano to the roster on Wednesday.
Also aiming to shut down Spain's offensive firepower on Friday is new NWSL champion goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who joined her German compatriots late following Gotham FC's title celebrations in New York this week.
While Spain and Germany will contend for the 2025 Nations League trophy this week, the pair — along with ousted semifinalists Sweden and France — have already booked spots in the top group of teams battling for tickets to the 2027 World Cup, with UEFA qualifying set to begin in 2026.