On the first matchday of the European qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, Germany put in a promising performance against Slovenia, England showed their hunger for goals against Ukraine, and Denmark’s Pernille Harder celebrated a successful anniversary. Meanwhile, France rallied late to edge a spirited Republic of Ireland side.
Only the group winners in League A will qualify for the global finals in this first phase of qualifying. Between October and December 2026, 32 teams will compete in the play-offs for seven more direct World Cup tickets, with another team hoping to qualify in the FIFA play-off tournament.
UEFA Qualifiers, Matchday 1
Group A1
Denmark 3-1 Serbia
Denmark goals: Bredgaard (13), Vangsgaard (19), Harder pen (64)
Serbia goal: Stokic (40)
Denmark set a high tempo from the start and broke the deadlock with Mille Gejl cleverly passing to Sofie Bredgaard, who beat Milica Kostic in the Serbian goal. Amalie Vangsgaard doubled the lead, and although Denmark continued to play forward, Serbia pulled a goal back when Denmark failed to clear and Sara Stokic made them pay.
But it turned out to be a successful evening for Pernille Harder, who celebrated her tenth anniversary as Danish captain in her 168th international match by converting a penalty to seal the win.
Italy 0-1 Sweden
Sweden goal: Angeldahl (22)
Despite a few injury concerns, including Fridolina Rolfo having to sit on the bench, Sweden overcame Italy. The lone goal came via a quick counter-attack, as Filippa Angeldahl was set up by Felicia Schroder and scored from outside the penalty area.
Italy had several chances to equalise before half-time and were even more dangerous in the second half, but Sweden’s defence saw things out to the final whistle.
Group A2
Poland 2-2 Netherlands
Poland goals: Pajor (24), Tomasiak (84)
Netherlands goals: Buurman (44), Roord (47)
In a highly entertaining encounter with both teams seeking their fortune in attack, Poland and Netherlands played to a share of the spoils. Plenty of space was to be had, and Ewa Pajor took advantage of one of these situations to score her 69th international goal.
The Dutch were not deterred and turned the game around with two goals within three minutes. Veerle Buurman was in the right place at the right time and scored from close range to make it level at half-time. Moments after the restart, Jill Roord was set up by substitute Lynn Wilms and scored to give Netherlands the lead. But Poland would answer in front of the home fans in Gdansk, as they struck late through Paulina Tomasiak.
Republic of Ireland 1-2 France
Republic of Ireland goal: McCabe (12)
France goals: Malard (71, 79)
France overcame a slow start to win at Republic of Ireland. The hosts impressed early, as Emily Murphy played a ball through to Katie McCabe, who finished decisively to give her side the lead.
The visitors looked to respond but struggled into the latter stages. They finally broke when Sandy Baltimore provided the assist for Melvine Malard’s equaliser from the edge of the box. The winner then came when the Irish failed to clear a corner and the ball landed at the feet of Malard, who slotted home to give Les Bleues the win.
Group A3
Ukraine 1-6 England
Ukraine goal: Kalinina (58)
England goals: Russo (47, 51), Stanway (64 pen, 70), Park (78, 89)
After 45 goalless minutes in Antalya, England, who had been the better side but unlucky up to that point, stepped up a gear. Alessia Russo scored twice in six minutes, first beating her opponent in the penalty area and finishing low into the right corner, followed by finishing off good work from Lauren Hemp.
Ukraine got back into the game from a set piece. Yana Kalinina won a free kick in the penalty area and poked the ball in through a crowd, but the joy of the equaliser was short-lived. Georgia Stanway first converted a penalty and then celebrated her second goal with a beautiful shot from the edge of the box. The Bayern midfielder then capped off her strong performance with an assist for a tap-in for Jess Park, who added a second one in the final minutes.
Spain 3-0 Iceland
Spain goals: Claudia Pina (39, 54), Imade (76)
In the first half, Spain surrounded the opposition penalty area, but had to wait a while to reap their reward. Claudia Pina broke the deadlock with a spectacular goal, and it was the Barcelona striker who made it 2-0 shortly after the break.
The world champions remained dangerous, but were plagued by wayward finishing. Nevertheless, Edna Imade scored with a header for the third of the night.
Group A4
Germany 5-0 Slovenia
Germany goals: Endemann (6), Senss (12), Dallmann (48), Muhlhaus (53), Schuller (71)
Germany got off to a good start and set the course for victory within the first quarter-hour. Christian Wuck’s team quickly combined through midfield with two passes and sent Vivien Endemann on her way, who scored from eight metres out into the near corner. Shortly afterwards, the goalscorer turned provider and found Elisa Senss, who doubled the lead with a low shot.
The third goal was beautifully worked, with the lively Linda Dallmann scoring after a one-two with Sjoeke Nusken. Germany added a fourth through Larissa Muhlhaus, who scored with an acrobatic and energetic effort before Lea Schuller kept her cool in a one-on-one with Slovenia’s goalkeeper Zara Mersnik.
Austria 0-1 Norway
Norway goal: Naalsund (81)
The visitors enjoyed the better of the game for long periods and showed their superior individual class, but were left frustrated against an Austria side that sat very deep. The home side’s plan worked well until late into the second half when Julie Blakstad’s cross was finished off strongly by Lisa Naalsund.
What they said…
“We started well in both halves and brought a lot of energy to the pitch. But we also had a few sloppy moments in the game. There are a few things we need to work on. Nevertheless, the game makes us want more.”
Giulia Gwinn, Germany captain
“We showed from the start that we wanted to win the game. We made sure the result was clear early on and I was very happy with how we followed up in the second half.”
Christian Wuck, Germany coach
“Norway has incredible quality. When we function as a team, it’s possible to make a game like this close. It didn’t work out in the end, but we’re taking a lot of strength with us.”
Alexander Schriebl, Austria coach
“Nothing, nothing to complain about. As I told the girls, I’m extremely proud of what they showed on the pitch, of the passion I was able to bring to the stadium. Even though we missed out on a result, we’re still very focused. In a round like this, the result is important, but even more important is the spirit the girls showed, which will allow us to arrive in Vicenza next Saturday with the desire and determination to keep trying and achieve a result.”
Andrea Soncin, Italy coach
“We were disappointed we didn’t score [in the first half] but you don’t need tough words for them because everyone is giving their best and doing what we needed to do. It helped also that we swapped our wingers from one side to the other and we came inside a little more. We totally controlled the game. We tried to be a little more patient and shoot from the edge of the box, which we did a lot better in the second half. Every moment we lost the ball, we were on it, that shows the mentality of the team.”
Sarina Wiegman, England coach
“That wasn’t one of our best internationals, but we still scored three goals and could have had even more. Overall, it was a very mixed performance, and we could have been more solid defensively. The second half became a bit too wild, whereas in my view we had more control in the first half.”
Pernille Harder, Denmark captain
“That was definitely not the start we wanted. In the first half, we were far too sloppy on the ball. Poland have enormous power and quality in transition, so you have to be much more secure in possession yourself.”
Arjan Veurink, Netherlands coach
“I’m very happy — to have played, to have worn this jersey, to have helped the team. We knew we had to win this match. We did it very well. We suffered. But it’s cool. We know we have talent, experience, and youth. We managed to show our character.”
Melvine Malard, France forward
“It feels good. The group showed a real team spirit. There’s no such thing as substitutes. The players who came on made a real impact. Congratulations to Melvine for her performance off the bench, but they all deserve praise. There’s a very positive atmosphere coming from this group. We were away from home, the crowd was behind them, they put us under pressure, but we held firm and showed our values. I’m proud of this team.”
Laurent Bonadei, France coach
