FIFA Women's World Cup play-off tournament procedure confirmed

Draw set for Zurich on 20 August

FIFA has released the draw procedures for the preliminary phase of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 Play-Off Tournament. The draw itself will take place at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on Thursday, 20 August 2026, at 14:00 local time (CEST).

The tournament consists of two phases: a preliminary phase during the international window from 24 November to 5 December 2026, followed by a final phase during the international window from 23 February to 6 March 2027.

Six teams, three pots

The six teams that have qualified for the play-off tournament — Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan (AFC), South Africa and Ghana (CAF), Ecuador (CONMEBOL) and Papua New Guinea (OFC) — will be allocated to three pots according to the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking, as updated on 16 June 2026. The two highest-ranked teams go into Pot 1, the next two into Pot 2, and the remaining two into Pot 3.

The seeding for the draw:

Pot 1: Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan Pot 2: South Africa, Papua New Guinea Pot 3: Ghana, Ecuador

Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn against each other in the preliminary phase. If a draw would result in that pairing, the team is reallocated to the next available position.

The route to Brazil 2027

The teams will be assigned to nine pre-defined match fixtures as per the draw procedures. Each team plays three matches in the preliminary phase, with those finishing first and second overall advancing to the final phase.

Those two teams will join the four sides that qualify directly for the final phase — two from Concacaf, Venezuela from CONMEBOL, and one from UEFA. The final phase consists of single-match ties, with the winner of each securing one of the last three places at next year's tournament.

The FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 will be held across eight Host Cities in Brazil between 24 June and 25 July 2027.