England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland face demanding play-off paths across October and November 2026 to secure qualification for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil, as bbc.co.uk reported. Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses must win a two-legged tie against Greece before potentially facing Slovakia or Ukraine.
The Road Ahead for the Lionesses and Sarina Wiegman
England missed out on an automatic qualification spot after finishing behind world champions Spain in their qualifying group, despite securing five wins from six matches. Wiegman’s side now travels to Crete to face Greece on Friday, 9 October 2026, before hosting the second leg at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, with bbc.co.uk noting that commentary will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Should the European champions advance past Greece, they will face the winner of Slovakia versus Ukraine in round two between 26 November and 5 December 2026. Wiegman addressed high-profile squad omissions ahead of the fixtures, stating to bbc.co.uk: “They have not been playing to their full potential.” Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly were left out of the initial selection following individual evaluations over previous weeks.
Celtic Nations and Republic of Ireland Face Difficult Play-Offs
The remaining home nations and the Republic of Ireland also begin their respective play-off campaigns on Friday. Northern Ireland takes on Portugal in round one, facing a tough challenge against a talented young squad that twice defeated them during Euro 2025 qualifying, according to bbc.co.uk reporting. A victory would likely set up a second-round meeting with a defensively resolute Iceland side.
Scotland targets a return to the global stage after their 2019 World Cup appearance, opening their play-off run against the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Wales meets Albania after thrashing them 4-0 during the qualifying group stage under Rhian Wilkinson. The Republic of Ireland starts their campaign with a 3,100-mile trip to Kazakhstan under Carla Ward, with a potential second-round matchup against Belgium looming on the horizon.
| Nation | Round 1 Opponent | First Leg Date | Notable Qualification Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Greece | 9 October 2026 | Finished behind Spain in group stage |
| Scotland | Czech Republic | 9 October 2026 | Chasing second World Cup appearance |
| Wales | Albania | 9 October 2026 | Thrashed opponents 4-0 earlier in group play |
| Northern Ireland | Portugal | 9 October 2026 | Faced Portugal twice in Euro 2025 qualifiers |
| Republic of Ireland | Kazakhstan | 9 October 2026 | Navigating a 3,100-mile away trip |
Broadcasters Set for First Leg Matches
While the first leg schedules are locked in for Friday, 9 October 2026, exact match dates for the decisive second round remain subject to final confirmation by governing bodies. Television and streaming broadcasts are set across multiple platforms, with BBC Two Wales covering the Welsh fixture, BBC iPlayer and BBC Alba carrying Scotland, and BBC iPlayer streaming Northern Ireland’s clash against Portugal.
Wiegman emphasized the immediate tactical preparation required for the upcoming matches. “We want to dominate games and have a lot of the ball and that’s something we will prepare for carefully,” the England head coach told bbc.co.uk. The definitive outcomes across these two-legged play-offs will determine which nations successfully book their tickets to Brazil.
