The UEFA women’s qualifying race took a sharp turn on Matchday 5, with Spain’s emphatic win over England headlining a night of major swings. With one round left before the play-off field is finalized, the next set of matches will decide automatic places, seeding, and who still has a route to Brazil.
Biggest Takeaways From Friday
Spain produced the result of the night, beating England 4-0 and flipping the balance in one of the strongest groups in the competition. That scoreline stood out even in a round filled with clear margins and a few surprise results.
The rest of the established contenders also delivered. Germany beat Norway 2-0, France defeated Poland 2-0, and Italy responded with a 3-0 victory over Serbia. The most notable upset came from the Republic of Ireland, who stunned the Netherlands 3-2.
Several teams also piled up goals against lower-ranked opponents, turning the evening into a show of depth as much as quality.
Results That Shaped the Night
- Spain 4-0 England
- Germany 2-0 Norway
- France 2-0 Poland
- Italy 3-0 Serbia
- Republic of Ireland 3-2 Netherlands
- Switzerland 6-1 Malta
- Portugal 5-0 Latvia
- Scotland 6-0 Israel
- Belgium 6-0 Luxembourg
Full Matchday 5 Scoreboard
League A
Group A1: Italy 3-0 Serbia; Denmark 2-1 Sweden
Group A2: Poland 0-2 France; Republic of Ireland 3-2 Netherlands
Group A3: Ukraine 0-1 Iceland; Spain 4-0 England
Group A4: Austria 1-0 Slovenia; Germany 2-0 Norway
League B
Group B1: Czechia 1-1 Albania; Montenegro 1-1 Wales
Group B2: Türkiye 2-1 Northern Ireland; Switzerland 6-1 Malta
Group B3: Slovakia 0-4 Finland; Portugal 5-0 Latvia
Group B4: Scotland 6-0 Israel; Belgium 6-0 Luxembourg
League C
Group C1: Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-0 Lithuania; Liechtenstein 0-5 Estonia
Group C2: Bulgaria 3-1 Gibraltar; Kosovo 0-1 Croatia
Group C3: Azerbaijan 1-2 Hungary; Andorra 0-1 North Macedonia
Group C4: Georgia 2-3 Faroe Islands
Group C5: Moldova 0-0 Romania
Group C6: Armenia 1-1 Kazakhstan
What to Watch on the Final Group Night
Matchday 6 arrives on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and it should settle the biggest remaining questions. A number of groups are still tight enough that one result could change the full shape of the standings.
- Group A3: England vs. Ukraine and Iceland vs. Spain
- Group A2: France vs. Republic of Ireland and Netherlands vs. Poland
- Group A4: Norway vs. Austria and Slovenia vs. Germany
- Group B4: Luxembourg vs. Belgium and Israel vs. Scotland
- Group C2: Croatia vs. Bulgaria and Gibraltar vs. Kosovo
The most closely watched pairing is in Group A3, where England host Ukraine while Spain travel to Iceland. That set of matches could still reshuffle the top end after Spain’s dominant win.
Group A2 also has real tension after Ireland’s upset of the Netherlands, with France now facing a tricky follow-up at home.
The Play-Off Path After June 9
Once group play ends, the next stage begins for the teams that do not qualify directly. The draw for the play-offs is scheduled for June 18, 2026, and the knockout rounds will decide which sides stay alive for Brazil.
- Play-off Round 1: October 7-13, 2026
- Play-off Round 2: November 25-December 5, 2026
- Inter-confederation play-offs: February 2027
The Destination at Stake
Europe’s route leads to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, scheduled for June 24 through July 25, 2027. It will be the first Women’s World Cup played in South America, which adds extra weight to every point still available in qualifying.
Friday’s results made one thing clear: no top side can afford a slow finish. Spain’s rout of England, Ireland’s comeback against the Netherlands, and the one-sided wins elsewhere set up a final round with plenty still unresolved.