NEXT MONTH’S WORLD Cup play-off final against Poland commands full focus, but Ireland are set to learn their 2027 Uefa Women’s Nations League fate.
Carla Ward’s side will discover their opponents on Tuesday afternoon, with the draw taking place at 12pm Irish time in Nyon, Switzerland. The coverage will be live-streamed by Uefa.
Ireland are ranked ninth in League A following the European Qualifiers, having retained their status by finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group.
This means they are in Pot 3 for the draw, with four groups to be formed comprising one team from each pot. Interestingly, League A offers a route to Olympic qualification, with tickets to LA 2028 up for grabs.
League A
Pot 1: Germany (1), Spain (2), Denmark (3), France (4)
Pot 2: England (5), Norway (6), Netherlands (7), Italy (8)
Pot 3:Republic of Ireland (9), Sweden (10), Iceland (11), Austria (12)
Pot 4: Switzerland (13), Portugal (14), Scotland (15), Wales (16)
Ireland boss Carla Ward with captain Katie McCabe. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
What is the best draw on paper?
As per the draw rankings outlined above: France, Italy, Wales.
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But the Fifa women’s world rankings might be a more accurate gauge. In that case, Denmark would be a more favourable top seed than France (10th v 6th).
So let’s go: Denmark, Italy, Wales.
What is the worst draw on paper?
Again, as per the draw rankings above: Germany, England, Switzerland.
Spain are number one in the world rankings: the World and European champions would be a daunting, yet exciting, challenge.
We’ll switch slightly to Spain, England, Portugal. (Scotland could be the fourth seed either, but this group would be restricted, as further detailed below.)
Here is another look at Ireland’s potential opponents, with their Fifa world ranking in brackets. (The Girls In Green are 21st in the world.)
Pot 1: Germany (3), Spain (1), Denmark (10), France (6)
Pot 2: England (4), Norway (13), Netherlands (11), Italy (14)
Pot 4: Switzerland (26), Portugal (24), Scotland (23), Wales (31)
Is there anything else to watch out for?
Yes, the aforementioned draw restriction, or Team GB constraint.
The rule, in Uefa’s wording is, “In order to avoid any potential perceived conflict of interest, Scotland (Pot 4) and Wales (Pot 4) may not be drawn into the same group as England (Pot 2) given that these teams unite as Team GB for the Olympics.”
Ireland before playing England in 2025. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
So, if Ireland are drawn into a group alongside England, neither Scotland nor Wales can join that group – and Ireland’s Pot 4 opponents would automatically be Switzerland or Portugal. Therefore, Ireland can be drawn against a maximum of one GB nation in their group.
The group winners progress to the Nations League semi-finals, and qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in LA: there are four European spots on offer for the expanded 16-team tournament. Ireland has never had a women’s football team compete at the Olympics, while men’s sides featured at Paris 1924 and London 1948.
Any fixture details yet?
Every team will play each other home and away across six matchdays in three designated international windows in 2027.
Matchdays 1 & 2: 23 February – 6 March 2027
Matchdays 3 & 4: 13 – 24 April 2027
Matchdays 5 & 6: 7 – 15 June 2027
The full fixture details will be confirmed by Uefa and the FAI later this month.
But the main dates in Irish heads right now are 1 and 5 December for the World Cup play-off final against Poland. The first leg is in Gdansk on 1 December, before the return tie at Aviva Stadium on 5 December to decide who qualifies for the 2027 World Cup.
The World Cup takes place next summer in Brazil, from 24 June to 25 July.
But before the showpiece in South America, the Nations League returns.
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Best/worst draw? Ireland WNT set to learn 2027 Nations League opponents
NEXT MONTH’S WORLD Cup play-off final against Poland commands full focus, but Ireland are set to learn their 2027 Uefa Women’s Nations League fate.
Carla Ward’s side will discover their opponents on Tuesday afternoon, with the draw taking place at 12pm Irish time in Nyon, Switzerland. The coverage will be live-streamed by Uefa.
Ireland are ranked ninth in League A following the European Qualifiers, having retained their status by finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group.
This means they are in Pot 3 for the draw, with four groups to be formed comprising one team from each pot. Interestingly, League A offers a route to Olympic qualification, with tickets to LA 2028 up for grabs.
League A
Pot 1: Germany (1), Spain (2), Denmark (3), France (4)
Pot 2: England (5), Norway (6), Netherlands (7), Italy (8)
Pot 3: Republic of Ireland (9), Sweden (10), Iceland (11), Austria (12)
Pot 4: Switzerland (13), Portugal (14), Scotland (15), Wales (16)
What is the best draw on paper?
As per the draw rankings outlined above: France, Italy, Wales.
But the Fifa women’s world rankings might be a more accurate gauge. In that case, Denmark would be a more favourable top seed than France (10th v 6th).
So let’s go: Denmark, Italy, Wales.
What is the worst draw on paper?
Again, as per the draw rankings above: Germany, England, Switzerland.
Spain are number one in the world rankings: the World and European champions would be a daunting, yet exciting, challenge.
We’ll switch slightly to Spain, England, Portugal. (Scotland could be the fourth seed either, but this group would be restricted, as further detailed below.)
Here is another look at Ireland’s potential opponents, with their Fifa world ranking in brackets. (The Girls In Green are 21st in the world.)
Pot 1: Germany (3), Spain (1), Denmark (10), France (6)
Pot 2: England (4), Norway (13), Netherlands (11), Italy (14)
Pot 4: Switzerland (26), Portugal (24), Scotland (23), Wales (31)
Is there anything else to watch out for?
Yes, the aforementioned draw restriction, or Team GB constraint.
The rule, in Uefa’s wording is, “In order to avoid any potential perceived conflict of interest, Scotland (Pot 4) and Wales (Pot 4) may not be drawn into the same group as England (Pot 2) given that these teams unite as Team GB for the Olympics.”
So, if Ireland are drawn into a group alongside England, neither Scotland nor Wales can join that group – and Ireland’s Pot 4 opponents would automatically be Switzerland or Portugal. Therefore, Ireland can be drawn against a maximum of one GB nation in their group.
The group winners progress to the Nations League semi-finals, and qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in LA: there are four European spots on offer for the expanded 16-team tournament. Ireland has never had a women’s football team compete at the Olympics, while men’s sides featured at Paris 1924 and London 1948.
Any fixture details yet?
Every team will play each other home and away across six matchdays in three designated international windows in 2027.
Matchdays 1 & 2: 23 February – 6 March 2027
Matchdays 3 & 4: 13 – 24 April 2027
Matchdays 5 & 6: 7 – 15 June 2027
The full fixture details will be confirmed by Uefa and the FAI later this month.
But the main dates in Irish heads right now are 1 and 5 December for the World Cup play-off final against Poland. The first leg is in Gdansk on 1 December, before the return tie at Aviva Stadium on 5 December to decide who qualifies for the 2027 World Cup.
The World Cup takes place next summer in Brazil, from 24 June to 25 July.
But before the showpiece in South America, the Nations League returns.
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