England’s Lionesses Set for Greece Play-Off Clash

England preferred to avoid the play‑offs, but a difficult group draw that paired them with world champions Spain left them with no alternative.

Nevertheless, Sarina Wiegman’s side are in a strong position and will feel confident heading into a favorable away leg against Greece in October.

Their recent double‑victories over potential round‑two opponents Ukraine in the qualifiers should also boost their morale.

Northern Ireland faces a tough first‑round tie against a youthful Portugal side, which defeated them twice in the Euro 2025 qualifiers.

If they progress, Iceland could prove a difficult second‑round opponent, having held England to challenging encounters earlier this year.

Scotland are aiming for only their second Women’s World Cup finals after missing out in 2023.

The Scots performed admirably in qualifying, including draws with Belgium that demonstrate their ability to compete with Europe’s elite.

They will need to be at their best in round two should they meet Sweden, two‑time World Cup semi‑finalists.

Wales have yet to defeat a top‑20 nation in a competitive match and will likely need such a result to advance, while their away form also requires improvement.

Rhian Wilkinson’s Welsh side, however, will face familiar opponents in round one after a 4‑0 qualifying win over Albania, giving them confidence to repeat the performance.

The Republic of Ireland, after an impressive qualifying campaign, face a challenging play‑off path with Belgium a possible second‑round opponent.

Carly Ward’s team must first endure a 3,100‑mile journey to Kazakhstan to face relatively unknown opposition.

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