The inter-confederation play-offs of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification tournament will be played in two phases in the international windows of November–December 2026 and February 2027 to determine the final three teams to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs)
Play-Off Tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027
On 10 December 2024, the FIFA Council approved the slot allocation and format of the play-off tournament.[1][2] On 15 April 2026, FIFA published the play-off tournament regulations.[3]
Preliminary phase: The preliminary phase of the inter-confederation play-offs will consist of six teams – two each from AFC and CAF, one from OFC, and the lower-ranked team from CONMEBOL according to the FIFA Women's World Ranking – competing at a centralized venue in November–December 2026. The teams will be drawn into three tiers to play a set of pre‑determined matches with teams from the same confederation barred from facing each other. The top two teams from this phase will advance to the final phase.[3]
Final phase: The final phase of the inter-confederation play-offs will consist of six teams – two teams advancing from the preliminary phase and four teams who received a bye: two from CONCACAF, one from UEFA, and the higher-ranked team from CONMEBOL – competing in single knockout matches to determine the final three qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. Teams will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA Women's World Ranking, the three highest-ranked teams will be seeded into pathways, and the other teams will be drawn against them. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn into the same pathway.[3]
The teams participating in the preliminary phase will be drawn into three tiers and will play a series of matches over three matchdays against opponents determined by draw position. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn into the same tier or play against each other.[3] As of April 2026, the draw procedures had not been published by FIFA.
During the preliminary phase, teams tied on standings points will be ranked using the following criteria:[3]
higher number of points obtained in matches among the tied teams;
greatest goal difference obtained in matches among the tied teams;
greatest number of goals scored in matches among the tied teams
If teams remain tied, then criteria a–c are reapplied only to those teams that remain tied. If teams still remain tied, then the following criteria are applied only to those teams that remain tied:
greatest goal difference in all preliminary phase matches;
greatest number of goals scored in all preliminary phase matches;
greatest total number of points obtained by all preliminary phase opponents;
greatest total goal difference obtained by all preliminary phase opponents;
greatest total number of goals scored by all preliminary phase opponents;
highest team conduct score obtained by players and team officials in all league phase matches:
Yellow card: –1 point;
Second yellow card/indirect red card: –3 points;
Direct red card: –4 points;
Yellow card and direct red card: –5 points
Only one deduction is applied to any player or team official in a single match
If teams are still tied, they will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA Women's World Ranking.
Teams participating in the final phase will be ranked according to the FIFA Women's World Ranking. The three highest-ranked teams from different confederations will be seeded into pathways, and the three remaining teams will be drawn as their opponents to play a single match. Teams from the same confederation cannot play against each other. If a match is level at the end of regulation, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played. If a match is still level at the end of extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. The winner of each match will qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.[3]
Uzbekistan
Chinese Taipei
Venezuela
Ecuador
Papua New Guinea