England have progressed in the Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs after beating Greece 8-1 on aggregate, a result that has renewed questions about how European qualification is structured. The two-time European champions were far superior, even though Greece performed well in their 3-1 home defeat. Greece are ranked 55 places below England in the world rankings.
England were not the only top European side to win heavily. Other nations forced into the play-offs also beat lower-ranked opponents by emphatic margins. The analysis said the evening did not truly reflect the growth of European women’s football, which has become more competitive in recent years, but that it did point to a qualification process that may need reviewing by Uefa.
Only group winners qualify directly, leaving top sides in play-offs
The main reason for the lopsided results is that only one team from each league phase group qualified automatically. That meant several strong nations were pushed into the play-offs against weaker opposition from lower leagues.
The Netherlands, the 2017 European champions, finished second in their group behind France, who are ranked sixth in the world. They then beat Hungary 11-0 on aggregate. Norway, the 1995 World Cup winners and six-time European finalists, lost out to Germany in their group and went on to beat Romania 8-0.
Other results were similarly one-sided:
- The Netherlands beat Hungary 11-0 on aggregate.
- Norway beat Romania 8-0.
- Sweden won 15-0 in their play-off.
- The Republic of Ireland won 12-0 in theirs.
England, drawn in the same group as world champions Spain, followed the pattern with another heavy win over a much weaker League C team. Speaking on Tuesday about the qualification process, Wiegman said: “Of course we wanted to qualify straight away, that’s not the case.”
The England manager then turned to the immediate task. “For us now, the facts are that we are in the play-offs, we have played Greece, now we’re through, and now we’re going to play Ukraine. That’s what my focus is on,” she said. On the review of the format, she added: “Uefa will review how things are set up and see whether they think it works or it should be better, or different. I don’t think it’s my place now to review that.”
England’s path through Ukraine and a difficult group record
England still have a two-legged tie against Ukraine to play. The first leg is away from home on 1 December, and the return fixture is at Wembley Stadium on 5 December. England beat Ukraine twice in the league phase, by an aggregate score of 9-1.
The analysis questioned the format again, arguing it seems absurd that England could have to beat the same team on at least three occasions as part of their qualification.
England’s recent record in the qualifying campaign is strong. They have won seven of their last eight qualifying matches, scored 21 goals and conceded six. Their only defeat in that run was away to world champions Spain, a 4-0 loss in June that Wiegman later described as costly.
England finished runners-up in League A3 only on head-to-head record with the best team in the world, having also beaten Spain 1-0 at Wembley. Their total of 15 league phase points was bettered by only three other teams: Germany, Switzerland and Hungary.
The analysis noted that Switzerland and Hungary were placed in qualifying groups in League B and League C that did not include a single team from the world’s top 45 ranked nations. England, seeded in League A, had Iceland, ranked 13th, as a tricky opponent, along with world number one Spain in their four-team group.
Rising standards in Europe and the case for a fairer route
The analysis acknowledged that competition in England’s section has improved. In qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, England beat Latvia 20-0 and 10-0. That tournament expanded from 24 to 32 teams, and England were tested by debutants Haiti in the group stage, winning narrowly 1-0, and by Colombia in the quarter-final.
Europe’s rise was also evident in other competitions. England failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games on behalf of Team GB after finishing second to the Netherlands in their Nations League group. The following year, they drew with Portugal and lost to Belgium, and at Euro 2025 they had to overcome two penalty shootouts.
After the Spain defeat, Wiegman said: “The competition in Europe is really high.” She added: “What I’m disappointed about is that we win five games, we have 15 points and we’re in a group with the world champions and then you can’t qualify.” She also said she was happy with the performances but not with the result that sent England into the play-offs.
The analysis said England’s rivals are gaining experience against top teams while England are still in qualifying. Germany and Japan, both tournament favourites, met in a friendly on Tuesday night. Brazil and Argentina drew 2-2, and four-time world champions USA played Spain twice in five days.
Fifa has announced that the 2031 Women’s World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams, but it is too early to judge whether that is the right decision. The analysis concluded that while larger scorelines remain, they are a direct result of a European qualification process that does not benefit the majority of teams.
