Lionesses vs Spain AGAIN! England Handed Nightmare Draw in 2027 Women’s World Cup Qualifying

Sarina Wiegman’s Side Face World Champions Once More in Battle for Automatic Qualification

For the England Lionesses, fate seems to have a sense of humor — and a cruel one at that. The draw for the 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifiers has handed Sarina Wiegman’s team the toughest possible opponent: none other than Spain, the reigning world champions and their familiar foes from both heartbreak and glory.

It’s a rivalry that has defined women’s football over the past few years — from England’s Euro 2025 triumph over La Roja to the lingering sting of the 2023 World Cup final, when Spain emerged victorious. Now, both sides will clash again in Group A2, where only one can secure automatic qualification for the tournament in Brazil.

England’s Worst-Case Scenario Comes True

Tuesday’s qualifying draw, conducted at UEFA headquarters, left many England fans groaning in unison. Despite being European champions, Wiegman’s squad found themselves seeded in Pot 2 due to their second-place finish in the Women’s Nations League earlier this year.

That meant one thing: they were destined to face one of the big guns — Spain, France, Germany, or Sweden. And when the balls were drawn, the worst possible outcome became reality.

Spain, boasting two Ballon d’Or winners in Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, and a conveyor belt of technically gifted talent, are currently the undisputed queens of world football. They’ve mastered the art of possession, movement, and precision — and now stand directly in England’s path once more.

While England can take heart from their Euro 2025 victory, where a gritty defensive performance and a late strike saw them lift the trophy, there’s little doubt that Spain have grown even stronger since then.

The Rest of the Group: A Mixed Blessing

The draw wasn’t entirely unkind to the Lionesses. Joining them and Spain in Group A2 are Iceland and Ukraine, two competitive but beatable sides. England will be relieved to have avoided tougher opponents like Denmark or Norway, though there will be no room for complacency.

With only the group winners booking an automatic ticket to Brazil, every point will matter. Second place leads only to the play-offs — a treacherous route that no team, least of all one with England’s pedigree, wants to take.

The stakes are brutally high, and the margin for error razor thin.

Chloe Kelly England Women 2025

How the 2027 Women’s World Cup Qualifying Works

The qualifying format mirrors the Women’s Nations League, which not only decides who makes the World Cup but also shapes the next Nations League campaign.

Teams are divided into Leagues A, B, and C, based on their performance in the previous Nations League cycle. England, as part of League A, were automatically placed in one of the top four groups.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• The four winners of League A groups qualify automatically for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

• The second, third, and fourth-placed teams in League A enter the play-offs.

• In League B, the top three teams in each group progress to those same play-offs.

• In League C, the six group winners and the two best runners-up also qualify for the play-off stage.

Those play-offs will ultimately determine the remaining seven European qualifiers and one team for the intercontinental play-offs, set for February 2027.

All told, Europe will send 11 or 12 teams to the World Cup — but only a select few will enjoy a smooth path there.

The Road to Brazil: Key Dates for Lionesses Fans

The qualifying campaign kicks off in the New Year, beginning during the February 2026 international window.

• Matchdays 1 & 2: February 26 – March 7, 2026

• Matchdays 3 & 4: April 9 – 18, 2026

• Matchdays 5 & 6: June 3 – 9, 2026

After that, the play-off draw will take place on June 24, setting up the high-stakes matches for later in the year:

• Round 1: October 2026

• Round 2: Late November – early December 2026

Meanwhile, the four group winners from League A — if England manage to secure that elusive top spot — will be free to organize friendlies in the final two international windows of 2026.

That luxury, of course, is something Wiegman and her players will be desperate to earn.

Beth Mead England Women 2025

England’s Recent Form: Building for the Next Challenge

After failing to qualify for the Nations League Finals, England have shifted focus toward the long road to Brazil. Wiegman has taken a pragmatic approach — using 2025 to fine-tune tactics, test depth, and expose her players to a variety of playing styles.

Their friendly schedule reflects that ambition. The Lionesses faced Brazil last month in a pulsating encounter in São Paulo but were edged 2-1 by the hosts. A few days later, however, they bounced back with an emphatic 3-0 win over Australia, a reminder of their resilience and attacking firepower.

Now, attention turns to their final two friendlies of the year:

• England vs China, at Wembley in November

• England vs Ghana, at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium on December 1

These matches will serve as both celebration and preparation — opportunities to test themselves against different tactical approaches before the real battles begin in February.

The Rivalry That Defines an Era

There’s something poetic about England vs Spain becoming the defining rivalry of modern women’s football.

Their 2023 World Cup final meeting in Sydney ended in heartbreak for the Lionesses, as Olga Carmona’s strike secured Spain’s first global crown. Yet, only two years later, England turned the tables, defeating La Roja in the Euro 2025 final, reclaiming continental pride in front of a jubilant Wembley crowd.

Now, they meet again — not in a final, but in a campaign where consistency, not just brilliance, will be key.

Spain’s brand of fluid, possession-heavy football contrasts sharply with England’s disciplined, pressing-oriented approach. It’s a clash of philosophies as much as it is a clash of players.

Sarina Wiegman’s tactical adaptability — a hallmark of her tenure — will once again be tested. Against the world champions, she will need not only technical quality but also mental resilience from her squad.

The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher

For all the progress the Lionesses have made under Wiegman — a European Championship, a World Cup final, and back-to-back top finishes in major tournaments — there’s a sense that the next step is about sustained dominance.

That’s what Spain have managed to achieve, and it’s what England now aspire to.

Winning the group and qualifying directly would not only cement England’s place among the global elite but also send a statement that their Euro triumph was no fluke. Failing to do so, on the other hand, would mean facing the uncertainty of the play-offs — and potentially crossing paths with another European heavyweight along the way.

In a qualifying cycle where every match could define the road to Brazil, the margin for error is smaller than ever.

Looking Ahead: England’s Golden Generation

If there’s a silver lining for England fans, it’s the squad itself. This is, arguably, the most talented generation in Lionesses history.

With Chloe Kelly, Lauren James, and Ella Toone all entering their prime years, and experienced leaders like Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze still anchoring the backline, the blend of youth and experience is ideal.

Emerging talents like Grace Clinton, Lauren Hemp, and Katie Robinson have injected fresh energy, while Wiegman continues to integrate new faces — proof that England are building not just for one campaign, but for the future.

As the manager herself has said on numerous occasions, “We’re not chasing history anymore — we’re shaping it.”

One More Chapter in a Growing Rivalry

When England and Spain meet again, it will be more than just a qualifier. It will be a continuation of a narrative that has captivated the footballing world — a rivalry built on mutual respect, contrasting styles, and shared brilliance.

From Sydney to Wembley, and now across Europe once more, these two sides have pushed each other to new heights. And as the 2027 Women’s World Cup looms on the horizon, one thing is certain: whichever nation finishes top of Group A2 will not only earn a place in Brazil but also solidify their claim as the true standard-bearer of the women’s game.

The countdown has begun. The road to Brazil starts now.