Spain defeared Iceland 6-1 to book its tickets to Women’s FIFA World Cup 2027 in Brazil. | Photo Credit: AP

World champion Spain and France booked their tickets to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday, but England missed out on automatic qualification despite beating Ukraine.

Spain thumped Iceland 6-1 in Reykjavik with Vicky Lopez scoring twice. Edna Imade, Salma Paralluelo, Claudia Pina and Aitana Bonmati were also on target to seal first place in qualifying group A3.

Melvine Malard scored the only goal for France in a 1-0 home win over the Republic of Ireland on the final day of European qualifying to clinch its berth to a fifth World Cup in a row.

European champion England, who lost to Spain last week, finished second in its group despite beating Ukraine 3-0, and will have to navigate the playoffs to earn its ticket to Brazil.

Linda Boama scored the only goal for Iceland who will also go through the playoffs, after finishing in third place in the group, ahead of Ukraine.

Sarina Wiegman’s England needed group leader Spain to lose or draw in Iceland.

Only the top team in the qualifying group secured an automatic spot.

In Liverpool, defender Jess Carter got England off the mark before Georgia Stanway doubled its lead going into half-time after the hosts dominated in front of 26,065 fans at Everton’s stadium.

Ukraine fought back in the second half but Beth Mead’s 40th goal for her country handed the visitors a sixth defeat from its six qualifying games.

In Grenoble, Les Bleues finished first in its qualifying group A2 ahead of the Netherlands.

Malard struck just before half-time with a sumptuous acrobatic effort and the hosts held on despite playing with 10 women for the final 20 minutes after Thiniba Samoura was sent off for a second yellow card.

Published on Jun 10, 2026