England’s head coach Sarina Wiegman expressed her excitement over the upcoming matchup with Spain during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 qualifying draw held yesterday.
The Lionesses were placed in the same qualification group as the reigning world champions, a mere three months after England triumphed over Spain in a penalty shootout in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 final. In addition to Spain, England will compete against Ukraine and Iceland across their six matches in the league stage.
In a media briefing following the draw, Wiegman conveyed her enthusiasm for the prospect of facing Spain once more, recognizing the intensity and competitiveness of both teams.
“It seems like we always end up meeting, whether in tournaments or during draws like the Nations League. Both teams are highly competitive and very closely matched, so it’s exciting to be up against Spain again,” Wiegman stated.
“It’s also great to have matches against Iceland and Ukraine, as we haven’t faced them in quite some time.
“Ukraine’s promotion to League A is a significant achievement for them, and it presents an opportunity to challenge ourselves against a team we are not very familiar with at the moment, which I find appealing.
“As for Iceland, they faced a tough opponent in Northern Ireland during the play-offs. Although I haven’t played against them with England, they possess several talented players in their squad as well.
“Overall, I believe this is an exciting group, and when Spain was drawn with us, you could feel the excitement in the room.”
The UEFA qualification route allows only four nations automatic entry to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027, meaning either England or Spain will have to enter the play-offs. Wiegman emphasized the need for consistent performance leading up to next summer.
“Qualifying for the World Cup is no easy feat; you must top your group to qualify directly or face the play-offs. Therefore, it’s crucial to perform well consistently, every single match and every single day. There’s no room for complacency in this setup,” she explained.
“We never take our qualification for granted, but I believe we have a strong team, and we aim to prepare ourselves to be in peak form to win games, with the ultimate goal of getting ready for the World Cup.”
The first round of qualifying matches is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
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