The UEFA race to Brazil turned sharply after Matchday 5, with Spain’s 4-0 rout of England standing out as the defining result. With one final round left before the play-off draw is set, the bracket is still alive in several groups and the pressure is rising fast.
The results that changed the mood
Spain produced the clearest statement of the night by overwhelming England and flipping the tone of Group A3. Germany also stayed on track with a 2-0 win over Norway, France handled Poland with the same scoreline, and Italy responded with a strong 3-0 victory against Serbia.
The biggest surprise came from Dublin, where the Republic of Ireland beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a result that could matter well beyond the group stage. Several other teams piled on the goals as Switzerland defeated Malta 6-1, Portugal crushed Latvia 5-0, Scotland routed Israel 6-0, and Belgium matched that score against Luxembourg.
Friday’s scoreline rundown
League A delivered the most attention, starting with Italy’s 3-0 win over Serbia and Denmark’s 2-1 result against Sweden in Group A1. In Group A2, France beat Poland 2-0 while the Republic of Ireland edged the Netherlands 3-2. Group A3 saw Iceland defeat Ukraine 1-0 before Spain overwhelmed England 4-0. Group A4 brought wins for Austria over Slovenia, 1-0, and Germany over Norway, 2-0.
League B was more uneven but still decisive in places. Czechia drew 1-1 with Albania and Montenegro finished level with Wales by the same score in Group B1. Switzerland’s 6-1 win over Malta and Türkiye’s 2-1 win over Northern Ireland shaped Group B2. Finland beat Slovakia 4-0 and Portugal routed Latvia 5-0 in Group B3, while Scotland and Belgium both recorded 6-0 victories in Group B4.
League C stayed tighter overall, though there were still a few clear outcomes. Estonia beat Liechtenstein 5-0, Bulgaria defeated Gibraltar 3-1, Croatia edged Kosovo 1-0, Hungary won 2-1 in Azerbaijan, North Macedonia beat Andorra 1-0, and Georgia lost 3-2 to the Faroe Islands. Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 0-0 with Lithuania, Moldova drew 0-0 with Romania, and Armenia shared a 1-1 result with Kazakhstan.
What to watch on Matchday 6
The last group round arrives on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and it will decide who moves forward with momentum and who is forced into the next stage. The headline fixture in Group A3 is England against Ukraine, while Iceland host Spain in the other match in what remains one of the hardest groups to call.
Group A2 also has real tension attached to it. France meet the Republic of Ireland after Ireland’s upset of the Netherlands, and the Dutch still have work to do against Poland. In Group A1, Sweden face Italy and Serbia play Denmark, while Group A4 pairs Norway with Austria and Slovenia with Germany.
The same kind of pressure runs through the other leagues. Wales meet Czechia and Albania face Montenegro in Group B1, Switzerland travel to Northern Ireland while Malta play Türkiye in Group B2, and Finland host Portugal with Latvia against Slovakia in Group B3. Scotland visit Israel and Luxembourg take on Belgium in Group B4. League C closes with Estonia against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania against Liechtenstein, Croatia against Bulgaria, Gibraltar against Kosovo, Hungary against Andorra, North Macedonia against Azerbaijan, Georgia against Greece, Cyprus against Moldova, and Belarus against Armenia.
Why the final round matters
The end of group play does not end the road for everyone. Teams that do not secure automatic progress will move into the play-offs, where the next rounds will determine the remaining European path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The play-off draw is set for June 18, 2026. The first play-off round is scheduled as a two-leg series from October 7 to 13, 2026, followed by a second two-leg round from November 25 to December 5, 2026. The final inter-confederation play-offs are planned for February 2027.
The road to Brazil
The tournament itself runs from June 24 to July 25, 2027, and it will be the first Women’s World Cup staged in South America. That makes every point in qualifying more valuable, especially for nations still trying to lock in either direct passage or a safer play-off route.
After Matchday 5, the message is simple: Spain look dangerous, England have a fight on their hands, and several groups still need one more night to settle their order. Matchday 6 should bring answers, but it may also create a few more questions before the play-off picture becomes clear.
