England, Scotland and Wales Women All Secure Play Off Finals

England, Scotland, and Wales women all advanced to the World Cup Qualifying Play-off Finals after successful second-leg ties.

England put five past Greece for an 8-1 aggregate score, with Ukraine now their next opponents.

Scotland had to come from behind twice to beat Czechia 3-2 on the night and 5-2 overall, but Sweden will be a tough test after they crushed Lithuania 15-0 over two legs.

Wales added three goals in Llanelli to their one in Albania to set up a challenging clash with Norway.

Republic of Ireland cruised through against Kazakhstan, while Portugal ended Northern Ireland’s hopes.

The winners of the play-off finals – to be played on 26 November and 5 December – qualify for Brazil 2027 but the lowest-ranked side will still have to contest an inter-confederational playoff in February 2027.

Republic of Ireland 4-0 Kazakhstan (Agg: 12-0)
Poland 3-2 (AET) Belgium (Agg: 3-3, Poland won 4-3 on pens)

The Republic of Ireland extended their big advantage over Kazakhstan with Jessie Stapleton’s effort on 40 minutes. Katie McCabe, Lucy Quinn, and Denise O’Sullivan each added a goal to the tally.

Poland matched Belgium’s one-goal margin of victory from the first leg to take the tie to extra time and then a shoot-out. Ewa Pajor put the Poles ahead, Amy Littel levelled, but Paulina Tomasiak restored the lead. Jarne Teulings headed home for Belgium, and Pajor’s second goal took it to penalties. Four in a row were saved, with Natalia Padilla-Bidas converting the decider in sudden death.

Serbia 1-3 Finland (Agg: 6-2)
Italy 1-1 Belarus (Agg: 3-1)

Emma Koivisto gave Finland a strong start with an early goal, and although Eveliina Summanen scored an own goal, Nea Lehtola and Olivia Ulenius found the net to secure the Finns a 3-1 win on the night and a 6-2 victory overall.

Although Italy were held at home by Belarus, they progressed 3-1 on aggregate. Barbara Bonansea put them in front early on, but Karina Olkhovik equalised with 15 minutes to play.

Wales 3-0 Albania (Agg: 4-0)
Norway 6-0 Romania (Agg: 8-0)

Wales broke through late in the first half, with a defensive header from Lily Woodham’s cross leaving the goalkeeper stranded and giving Mayzee Davies a free header. The lead was doubled four minutes into the second half as Elise Hughes turned home a cross from Mared Griffiths. Sophie Ingle fired wide during a massive goalmouth scramble but Hannah Cain bundled the ball over the line from a Woodham delivery.

Norway hit Romania for six to ease through, helped by an Elisabeth Terland hat-trick. Synne Jensen had opened the scoring, Marthine Østenstad and a Julie Blakstad header provided the later goals.

Switzerland 2-0 Israel (Agg: 9-3)
Austria 4-0 Kosovo (Agg: 6-1)

Iman Beney’s header from a Géraldine Reuteler cross and Julia Stierli’s late free kick helped Switzerland comfortably beat Israel 9-3 over the two games.

Marie Höbinger took just seven minutes to extend Austria’s 2-1 away win over Kosovo. Sarah Puntigam, Virginia Kirchberger, and Eileen Campbell scored in the second half for a 4-0 result.

Slovenia 2-0 Turkiye (Agg: 5-3)
Netherlands 3-0 Hungary (Agg: 11-0)

Esmee Brugts headed home from Daniëlle van de Donk’s cross, Lineth Beerensteyn nodded in one from Lynn Wilms and Damaris Egurrola got a third for the Dutch against Hungary by half time.

Slovenia left it late to make use of the one-player advantage over Turkiye, whose Elif Keskin was dismissed for violent conduct inside the half hour. Maja Sternad finally made the breakthrough in the 84th minute, and Mirjam Kastelec doubled the lead in added time for a 5-3 aggregate win.

England 5-0 Greece (Agg: 8-1)
Ukraine 1-0 Slovakia (Agg: 4-1)

Lauren James played in Alessia Russo to score after three minutes, before hitting home England’s second herself. Georgia Stanway nodded in Lauren Hemp’s cross, the latter then putting one on a plate for James’ second of the evening. Russo went around the keeper to slot home her second of the night, making it 5-0 in the second half.

Veronika Andrukhiv’s goal close to halftime gave Ukraine a 1-0 lead over Slovakia, adding to their 3-1 win in the away leg.

Portugal 3-1 Northern Ireland (Agg: 7-1)
Iceland 5-0 Croatia (Agg: 9-0)

Kess Elmore fired Northern Ireland into a surprise lead in Portugal, but Carolina Santiago struck back by halftime. Jéssica Silva completed the turnaround at 74 minutes, and Carole Costa added a third from the spot.

Iceland improved on their 4-0 result from the first leg against Croatia, with goals from Hlín Eiríksdóttir, Ída Hermannsdóttir, Katla Tryggvadóttir, and a double from Diljá Zomers.

Scotland 3-2 Czechia (Agg: 5-2)
Sweden 10-0 Lithuania (Agg: 15-0)

Denisa Vesela reduced Czechia’s deficit from the first leg after only three minutes, but a Kirsty Hanson cross quickly allowed Lauren Davidson to level the score on the night. Klara Kahynova then put the visitors 2-1 ahead with a header from a corner. Kathleen McGovern’s ball from out wide went straight in, and Erin Cuthbert’s cross was spilled by Barbora Votíková, giving Christy Grimshaw a tap-in, making Scotland’s progress look assured.

Sweden overran Lithuania with a double-figure defeat, which included braces by Stina Blackstenius, Felicia Schröder, and Amanda Ilestedt.