The past twelve months delivered spectacular women’s football tournaments, packed with drama and played at an ever-higher standard: England defended their European Championship title with a gripping penalty shoot-out win over Spain in the final, while Brazil lifted the Copa América Femenina and Nigeria were crowned African champions. Elsewhere, Spain secured back-to-back UEFA Women’s Nations League titles, while Japan triumphed at the SheBelieves Cup.
With around 18 months to go until the next edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, we take a look at the teams that cleaned up in 2025 and who are already dreaming of landing the ultimate prize at the finals in Brazil in 2027.
England
The Lionesses have long been a force in women’s football, and the EURO 2022 champions had one clear objective at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025: to defend their title. Having been drawn in a tough group, England opened with a defeat against France but responded superbly, sweeping aside the Netherlands and Wales with ease. In the knockout phase, they showcased their mental fortitude after being taken to extra time on three occasions.
A penalty shoot-out win over Sweden followed in the quarter-finals, before Michelle Agyemang struck a dramatic last-minute equaliser against Italy in the semi-final and Chloe Kelly sealed victory in the 119th minute, sending England into a second consecutive EURO final.
There, the Lionesses were given the chance to avenge their defeat to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final. After falling behind early, England fought back in the second half and capped a superb performance by defeating the reigning world champions on penalties to claim a second successive European title.
Once again, the hero was goalkeeper Hannah Hampton – as she had been in the quarter-finals – later crowned The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper 2025 in December. At the 2027 World Cup, the Lionesses will be determined to settle the score with Spain on football’s biggest stage.
In the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, England will once again face Spain under the Nations League format, with Iceland and Ukraine completing the group. The group winners will secure direct qualification, while the other teams must prove their credentials via the play-offs.
Brazil
The record South American champions claimed their ninth Copa América Femenina title in 2025. After cruising through the group stage, Brazil thrashed Uruguay 5-1 in the semi-finals. The final against Colombia proved a stern test: the Seleção were forced to come from behind three times before eventually prevailing in a penalty shoot-out.
Queen Marta had appeared to bid farewell to the international stage after winning silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Women’s Football Tournament, but she returned for the Copa América and shone primarily as a super-sub. Introduced off the bench in the final, the 39-year-old scored twice late on and went on to be named Player of the Tournament. It seems highly unlikely that the six-time World Player of the Year will want to miss out on the 2027 World Cup on home soil.
As World Cup hosts, Brazil don’t need to qualify but have lined up several high-profile tests. The first major benchmark comes in early 2026, when they face the European champions, England. Brazil will also take part in the women’s FIFA Series™.
Spain
World champions Spain once again made a powerful statement in 2025. At the Women’s EURO, La Roja looked almost unbeatable on their march to the final. They dominated the group stage, scoring 14 goals almost at will, defeating hosts Switzerland in the quarter-finals before needing extra time to overcome Germany in the semis where The Best FIFA Women’s Player, Aitana Bonmati showed her class, deciding the match with a clinical finish. In the final against England, Spain took the lead but conceded an equaliser after the break and were ultimately edged out on penalties by the defending champions.
December, however, brought a more satisfying end to the year. After brushing aside Sweden in the UEFA Women’s Nations League semi-finals, Spain faced Germany in the final, with the Germans once again toppling France, just as they had at the Women’s EURO. Spain were almost unrecognisable as they played out a 0-0 draw in the first leg against a combative German side, but La Roja were back to their best in the second leg at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, winning emphatically 3-0.
Spain therefore begin qualification for the 2027 World Cup at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking. Drawn into Group A3 alongside England, Iceland and Ukraine, they may still have to navigate the play-offs.
Nigeria
Nigeria extended their continental dominance by lifting a tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. The 2024 edition was postponed by a year and eventually staged in Morocco in July 2025. With qualification already secured following two victories, Nigeria drew their final group-stage match. They defeated Zambia in the quarter-finals and South Africa in the semis, but the final against hosts Moroccan pushed the Super Falcons to their limits.
Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Nigeria drew on all their experience and quality to turn the match around. Esther Okoronkwo converted from the spot to bring Nigeria back into the game, Folashade Ijamilusi then equalised before Jennifer Echegini struck a late winner.
In addition, Nigeria secured qualification for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in early 2026. The tournament will run from 17 March to 3 April 2026 and will double as qualification for the 2027 World Cup. The four semi-finalists qualify automatically, while two of the losing quarter-finalists will advance to the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
Japan
The 2011 world champions have been searching for a return to past glories, and victory in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup marked a step in the right direction. Japan won all three matches at the tournament in the USA to claim the title. They kicked off with a 4-0 win over Australia, followed by a 4-1 victory against Colombia, setting up a decisive showdown against the hosts, ranked number one in the world. The USA had also won their first two matches but finally succumbed to the Nadeshiko.
In March 2026, Japan will contest the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Drawn into Group C alongside Vietnam, India and Chinese Taipei, the 2022 semi-finalists will be aiming to return to the top of the continental tree. The tournament also serves as the Women’s World Cup qualifiers with the four semi-finalists earning direct spots to Brazil 2027. The losing quarterfinalists then clash to decide an additional two direct berths. The pair of defeated nations from that clash will advance to the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
