Northern Ireland will face Switzerland, Turkiye and Malta in stage one of the European qualifiers for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
The qualifiers are set to run from February to December next year and decide the UEFA nations earning places at the 2027 World Cup as well as promotion and relegation ahead of the next edition of the UEFA Women's Nations League.
The European Qualifiers league stage is played in the same format as the UEFA Women's Nations League, with teams split into three leagues: League A with 16 teams, League B with 16 teams and League C with 21 teams.
The draw for stage one of the European qualifiers was held at UEFA HQ in Nyon earlier today.
Northern Ireland were drawn from League B Pot 2, while Switzerland were drawn from Pot 1.
Tanya Oxtoby’s side, who remained in League B after being defeated by Iceland in a promotion play-off last month, are the second seeds in League B Group 2, while Switzerland are the top seeds. Turkiye are third seeds and Malta the fourth seeds.
The Northern Ireland manager said: “I am really happy with the draw. It’s a really exciting variety of opponents for us.
“It will be great to challenge ourselves against a really exciting young Swiss team that I had the pleasure of watching at the Euros (in Switzerland back in the summer). It will be a great challenge for us to pit ourselves against them.
“Obviously Malta are a team we've played before, and we know what to expect. With Turkey it’s a little bit of the unknown, but again it’s going to be a great challenge.”
She added that the “great mix of different opponents” would be beneficial in helping the Northern Ireland team continue their growth journey together.
In qualifying, as per the UWNL league stage, teams will compete in groups of four or three (League C) and over six matchdays between February and June 2026, with each team playing one home match and one away match against all the other teams in their group.
The winners of each League A group will gain automatic places in Brazil, while the remaining seven direct spots in Brazil, and a further berth in inter-confederation play-offs in February 2027, will be decided by two rounds of play-offs in October and November/December next year.
Round 1 of the play-offs is in two paths. In Path 1 the teams finishing second and third in League A groups will play the six group winners and two best-ranked runners-up in League C. The teams from League A will be seeded and play the second legs at home. The eight winners progress to Round 2.
In Path 2 the four fourth-placed League A teams and four League B group winners will be drawn into eight ties against the teams finishing second and third in the League B groups.
The teams from League A and the League B group winners will be seeded and play the second legs at home. The eight winners progress to Round 2.
In Round 2 of the play-offs the teams from both paths will come together and will be drawn into eight ties, with seeding for the Round 1 Path 1 winners, who will be at home in the second leg.
The seven best-ranked Round 2 play-off winners according to the 2026 Women’s European Qualifiers overall league rankings will then qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The one remaining Round 2 play-off winner qualifies for the World Cup inter-confederation play-offs. The European contenders will directly enter the inter-confederation play-offs in the second phase in February 2027.
