November 12: The top four ranked teams will remain separated at the 2027 Women’s World Cup until the semi-finals, FIFA confirmed on Wednesday.
The world governing body’s draw procedure mirrors how FIFA approached the recent 2026 Men’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Thus, if the top four teams win their groups, they will not be able to meet until the last four.
Currently, world champions Spain, Europeans England, the United States and Germany are the top four. The final classification will reflect the latest FIFA rankings on December 7 before the Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art hosts the draw on December 11. The draw for the final phase of the qualifying play-off tournament will take place one day before.
As the host of the tournament, Brazil will join the top seven ranked teams in Pot 1. The next eight teams will fill Pot 2, followed by the next eight in Pot 3. Pot 4 will consist of the remaining five ranked teams along with the three playoff winners.
In Europe, Germany, France, Spain and Denmark have already booked their place in the final. Australia, North Korea, China, Malawi and Argentina are among the other 18 teams qualified.
Brazil will be the first South American country to host the Women’s World Cup. Spain won the 2023 edition of the tournament, the first with 32 teams, defeating England 1–0 in the final in Sydney, Australia.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at (email protected)