The road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup has taken shape after the playoff draw was conducted at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
Six countries will contest the preliminary stage of the intercontinental playoff tournament, with Ghana, South Africa, Ecuador, Uzbekistan, Papua New Guinea and Chinese Taipei drawn into three groups.
Each team will play three matches, with the preliminary competition scheduled for the November 24 to December 5, 2026 international window.
Group A
Uzbekistan
South Africa
Group B
Papua New Guinea
Chinese Taipei
Group C
Ghana
Ecuador
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
FIFA said the venues, exact dates and kick-off times for the matches would be announced later.
Only the top two teams from the preliminary standings will advance to the final phase, where they will meet four teams that have already qualified directly for that round — two from CONCACAF, one from UEFA and Venezuela from CONMEBOL.
The final phase will run from February 23 to March 6, 2027, with the six teams divided into three paths. Each path will be settled by a single match, and the three winners will claim the remaining World Cup berths.
Ghana earned its place in the playoffs after defeating Côte d’Ivoire, while South Africa secured Africa’s second spot by overcoming Nigeria.
Ghana are seeking their first Women’s World Cup appearance since 2007, while South Africa are aiming for a third successive qualification after competing at the 2019 and 2023 editions.
The 2027 tournament will take place in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027, and will be the first Women’s World Cup hosted in South America.
