England took a big step forward in 2027 Women's World Cup qualification by defeating their group rivals Spain 1-0 at Wembley Stadium, after a single goal by Lauren Hemp in the third minute. It was a repeat of the World Cup 2023 final, and Spain continues unable to beat England on English soil, despite multiple attempts by Alexia Putellas, Vicky López, and Mariona Caldentey.
The match was part of the Group Stage for the 2027 Women's World Cup qualification in Europe, matchday 3 out of 4 (the fourth will be played on Saturday, April 18, and the final two matchdays will be played in June).
England and Spain are part of Group A3, and the winner gets direct qualification to World Cup next year. The rest will go to play-offs, alongside the best three teams in the four groups of the League B (also playing for promotion to UEFA Nations League A), as well as the best team and some runner-ups in the six groups of League C.
Now, England leads Group A3 with three wins, and Spain is second with two wins and one loss. Germany, Netherlands, and Denmark are the only other group leaders in League A, the first that would qualify for World Cup 2027, but we are only halfway into the group stage...
2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers: Matchday 3/6 on April 14
Group A1
Serbia 0-6 Italy
Sweden 1-2 Denmark
Group A2
Poland 2-3 Republic of Ireland
Netherlands 2-1 France
Group A3
England 1-0 Spain
Iceland 1-0 Ukraine
Group A4
Norway 5-0 Slovenia
Germany 5-1 Austria
Group B1
Czechia 5-0 Montenegro
Wales 4-0 Albania
Group B2
Switzerland 3-1 Türki̇ye
Northern Ireland 4-0 Malta
Group B3
Finland 4-2 Slovakia
Latvia 0-3 Portugal
Group B4
Israel 6-0 Luxembourg
Scotland 1-1 Belgium
Group C1
Estonia 2-1 Liechtenstein
Lithuania 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C2
Bulgaria 1-3 Kosovo
Gibraltar 0-1 Croatia
Group C3
North Macedonia 0-5 Hungary
Andorra 1-3 Azerbaijan
Group C4
Faroe Islands 2-3 Greece
Group C5
Moldova 0-0 Cyprus
Group C6
Armenia 0-3 Belarus