Spain and France secure spots in the 2027 Women's World Cup, while England's fate remains uncertain.

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France’s forward #09 Melvine Malard (C) celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Europe Zone Qualifiers League A Group 2 football match between France and the Republic of Ireland at the Stade des Alpes stadium in Grenoble, French Alps, on June 9, 2026. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)

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World champions Spain and France booked their tickets to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday, but England missed out on automatic qualification despite beating Ukraine.

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Spain thumped Iceland 6-1 in Reykjavik with Vicky Lopez scoring twice. Edna Imade, Salma Paralluelo, Claudia Pina and Aitana Bonmati were also on target to seal first place in qualifying group A3.

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Melvine Malard scored the only goal for France in a 1-0 home win over the Republic of Ireland on the final day of European qualifying to clinch their berth to a fifth World Cup in a row.

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European champions England, who lost to Spain last week, finished second in their group despite beating Ukraine 3-0, and will have to navigate the play-offs to earn their ticket to Brazil.

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Linda Boama scored the only goal for Iceland who will also go through the play-offs, after finishing in third place in the group, ahead of Ukraine.

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Sarina Wiegman’s England needed group leaders Spain to lose or draw in Iceland.

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Only the top team in the qualifying group secured an automatic spot.

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In Liverpool, defender Jess Carter got England off the mark before Georgia Stanway doubled their lead going into half-time after the hosts dominated in front of 26,065 fans at Everton’s stadium.

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Ukraine fought back in the second half but Beth Mead’s 40th goal for her country handed the visitors a sixth defeat from their six qualifying games.

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In Grenoble, Les Bleues finished first in their qualifying group A2 ahead of the Netherlands.

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Malard struck just before half-time with a sumptuous acrobatic effort and the hosts held on despite playing with 10 women for the final 20 minutes after Thiniba Samoura was sent off for a second yellow card.

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