Top four ranked nations to be kept apart until 2027 Women’s World Cup semi-finals
Fifa confirmed on Wednesday that the top four teams in its world rankings will be kept apart until the semi-finals at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, provided they each win their group. The announcement followed a change to the tournament’s draw procedure.
Spain, the United States, Germany and England are currently ranked one to four in the world respectively, although the US and England still need to qualify for the tournament. Seedings will be based on the updated rankings published on 7 December, meaning the order could change before the draw.
The same separation of the top four was applied at the 2026 men’s World Cup, which featured 48 teams, but Fifa did not confirm that the rule would be used for the 32-team women’s tournament until Wednesday. In the men’s event the top four – Spain, Argentina, France and England – all reached the semi-finals.
Record four-time champions the United States face El Salvador on 27 November as they bid to confirm their place at next summer’s tournament. A victory, coupled with no changes to the world rankings, would ensure the Americans would be placed in the opposite half of the draw to the defending champions, Spain; if both win their groups the two teams could not meet until the final at the Maracanã Stadium on 25 July. Neither Spain nor the US finished top of their group at the last World Cup.
England must beat Ukraine over two legs on 1 and 5 December to ensure their qualification. The European champions hold a 31-point advantage over fifth-placed Japan in the world rankings before the upcoming round of internationals.
If the current top eight remains as it is, France, hosts Brazil and Sweden would complete the set of eight Pot 1 seeds for the eight groups. Sweden, who finished third at three of the past four World Cups, face Scotland in their qualifying playoff in December; Canada, ranked ninth in the world, could pounce on a Pot 1 spot if anyone slips up.
Fifa have set out the pot system and continental restrictions for the draw: after the eight Pot 1 sides the next eight highest-ranked teams involved will be placed in Pot 2, with the next eight below them in Pot 3. Pot 4 will include three places for the winners of the inter-confederation playoff tournament that will conclude in March, along with the lowest-ranked sides involved. No group will be permitted to include more than one team from the same continent, except for European teams, of whom there can be a maximum of two per group.
The draw will take place at 1.30pm local time (11.30am EST/4.30pm GMT) on 11 December at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Modern Art. Brazil, as hosts, will be placed into Group A and will contest the opening match at the Maracanã on 24 June.