FIFA draws Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-off Tournament preliminary phase in Zürich, Switzerland; Final at Maracanã on 25 July 2027
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-off Tournament featuring South Africa, Ghana and more - preliminary phase draw and finals match schedule announced
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-off Tournament featuring South Africa, Ghana and more - preliminary phase draw and finals match schedule announced
Six national teams can take one step closer to competing at the next Women’s World Cup, taking place from 24 June to July 2027.
The draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-off Tournament preliminary phase was held on Thursday (20 August), with the match schedule for the World Cup finals next year also announced.
As the road to Brazil continues, six national teams have the chance to take a step closer to competing at the women’s football tournament.
The preliminary phase of the play-off tournament takes place from 24 November to 5 December 2026. It features Chinese Taipei, South Africa, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Papua New Guinea and Ecuador . Each team will play three times, and the top two will advance to the final play-off round.
At the same draw ceremony in Zürich, Switzerland, the full tournament schedule for the women’s World Cup was also announced.
Host nation Brazil will open the action at the iconic Estádio do Maracanã on 24 June 2027. The final will also take place at the Rio 2016 venue on 25 July 2027.
Matches will be hosted across eight Brazilian cities: Brasília, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027: These teams have qualified for the tournament – full list
Football - Women - Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Highlights of the Football - Women on Day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Maracanã Stadium on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 – how does the Play-off Tournament work?
The preliminary phase of the play-off tournament features six teams from five confederations around the world.
They are divided into three tiers based on their FIFA world rankings, though teams from the same confederation cannot play each other or be in the same tier.
Teams will contest a six-team league table, but will only play three matches and three opponents - one from each tier.
Matches will be played between 24 November and 5 December; the host venues and exact dates are still to be confirmed.
The top two teams will advance to the final phase of qualification, which takes place in February 2027. That will also feature six teams, with Venezuela the only team confirmed so far.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 – Play-off Tournament preliminary phase schedule
Matches to take place between 24 November and 5 December 2026
Uzbekistan vs Papua New Guinea
Chinese Taipei vs South Africa
Papua New Guinea vs Chinese Taipei
Papua New Guinea vs Ghana