The road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup has taken another step forward after FIFA confirmed the preliminary play-off draw and unveiled the full schedule for the tournament in Brazil.
The draw took place in Zurich on Thursday, with South Africa, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Papua New Guinea and Ecuador learning their route towards qualification.
The six teams will compete in the preliminary phase between 24 November and 5 December 2026, with the top two progressing to the final play-off phase in February 2027.
The six teams will compete in a single league table, although each side will play only three matches against opponents from the different ranking tiers.
Women's World Cup 2027 Preliminary Play-Off Schedule
The preliminary phase will begin with three opening fixtures:
Matchday 1
- Uzbekistan vs Papua New Guinea
- Chinese Taipei vs South Africa
- Ghana vs Ecuador
Matchday 2
- Uzbekistan vs Ghana
- South Africa vs Ecuador
- Papua New Guinea vs Chinese Taipei
Matchday 3
- South Africa vs Uzbekistan
- Papua New Guinea vs Ghana
- Chinese Taipei vs Ecuador
The top two nations will then progress to the final phase of the play-offs, where they will join four other teams battling for places at Brazil 2027.
Venezuela are currently the only confirmed team for that stage.
Brazil to Open the 2027 Women's World Cup at the Maracana
Alongside the play-off draw, FIFA also confirmed the full schedule for the 64-match World Cup, which will take place across eight Brazilian cities from 24 June to 25 July 2027.
Host nation Brazil will kick off the tournament at the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on 24 June.
They will then play their second group-stage match at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo on 29 June before completing their group campaign at the Mane Garrincha in Brasília on 4 July.
Brazil have been placed in Group A, with their opponents set to be confirmed at the final tournament draw in December.
The Maracana will also host the World Cup final on 25 July, meaning the legendary stadium will stage both the opening match and the tournament's showpiece.
It will become only the third stadium to have hosted both a men's and women's FIFA World Cup final, joining the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Sweden's former Rasunda Stadium.
Eight Brazilian Cities to Host 64 Women's World Cup Matches
The tournament will be played across eight host cities: Brasilia, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
Each Host City will stage at least seven matches and at least one knockout fixture.
Sao Paulo's Neo Quimica Arena will host the most matches, with 10 fixtures including a semi-final and the third-place play-off.
The Maracana and Arena Castelao will each stage nine matches, while Mineirao will host eight.
The knockout stages will then be spread across the country, with the quarter-finals taking place in Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
One semi-final will be held at the Maracana, with the other at the Neo Quimica Arena, before Sao Paulo hosts the third-place match and Rio welcomes the finalists for the showpiece.
FIFA said the schedule had been designed with travel distances, recovery time and sporting fairness in mind, while also ensuring fans across Brazil can experience the tournament.
The 2027 edition will feature 32 teams, with the remaining qualification places to be decided through the continental qualifying processes and play-offs.
With the preliminary play-off draw now complete and the full tournament schedule confirmed, the road to Brazil is beginning to take shape — with six nations now just three matches away from keeping their World Cup dreams alive.
