Welcome to a new newsletter from The Cutback focused on one thing and one thing only: getting you ready for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Yes, welcome to Women’s World Cup Countdown, your one-stop shop for news, tidbits, stats, and key dates that you need to know as we track all the major stories leading up to next summer’s tournament.
Whether it is which of the 32 teams have qualified, who are the players facing selection issues, or which nation has sacked their manager, you’ll always be in the know.
Let’s get to it.
The countdown
Days until the World Cup: 304
Qualified nations: 18
NEW! CAF (4): Algeria (debut), Cameroon, Malawi (debut), Morocco
AFC (6): Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea
CONMEBOL (3): Argentina, Brazil (host), Colombia
OFC (1): New Zealand
UEFA (4): Denmark, France, Germany, Spain
Inter-Confederation Play-Off: 7
NEW! CAF (2): Ghana, South Africa
AFC (2): Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei
CONMEBOL (2): Venezuela, Ecuador
OFC (1): Papua New Guinea
WAFCON concludes
Cameroon became African champions for the first time. WAFCON 2026, and thus World Cup qualifying for Africa, is in the books. Big congratulations to Cameroon, who came away worthy winners after a 3-0 victory over Malawi in a one-sided final in Rabat.
It was Cameroon’s fourth WAFCON final but their first time lifting the trophy, having lost to Nigeria on three previous occasions, most recently in 2016. The Indomitable Lionesses will now return to the World Cup for the first time since 2019, when, some people may remember, they were eliminated by England 3-0 in the quarter-finals.
Everyone is going to fall in love with Malawi. Defeated finalists Malawi have become the darlings of the region after exploding onto the scene in their WAFCON debut. Propelled by the Chawinga sisters, the Scorchers are now ones to watch as they head to their first-ever World Cup in Brazil next summer.
All gas, no brakes, Malawi scored 12 goals and conceded 10 at WAFCON 2026. The most goals scored of any team, and the second most conceded.
Read more about the rise of Malawian women’s football in Neel Shelat’s recent piece.
Rounding out CAF. Third-place Algeria and fourth-place Morocco picked up CAF’s other two automatic spots, while Ghana and South Africa are off to the inter-confederation playoffs after winning the repêchage between the four losing quarter-finalists.
But wait, what about Nigeria? Ah, yes, it’s pretty awkward, actually. For the first time in their history, Nigeria have failed to qualify for the Women’s World Cup. The 10-time African champions were knocked out of WAFCON at the quarter-final stage for the first time, and then subsequently lost to South Africa in the play-in.
The unthinkable has become reality for the African giants. Neel Shelat has a great breakdown of what happened for a federation that is surely about to blow the whole thing up.
News and tidbits
Brutal injuries for USWNT stars. In the last couple of weeks, the United States has lost veteran centre back Emily Sonnett to a patellar tendon tear and wonderkid Olivia Moultrie to an ACL tear. The lengthy recovery and rehab of these injuries will put both players’ potential World Cup in doubt.
Of course, it is important to keep in mind that the four-time winners the USA have yet to qualify yet. However, they are heavy favourites to beat El Salvador in their qualifier come November.
Gabi Nunes heads to NWSL. The 29-year-old Brazilian has moved from Aston Villa to the Orlando Pride on a free transfer and signed a short-term contract through the end of 2026. She made 22 appearances and scored five goals for Villa in the WSL last season.
The forward makes the move as she looks force her way back into the Brazil team ahead of a once in a lifetime home World Cup. Nunes has not been called up since 2024, having previously gone to the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics with Brazil.
Cortnee Vine back down under. After a difficult two years in the NWSL with the North Carolina Courage, the 28-year-old Australian winger has returned home to the A-League Women with Melbourne City. Vine is looking to rekindle a once promising international career.
Vine recently signed a one-year deal with City after mutually agree to terminate her contract with the Courage in June. The forward, who became a national icon after scoring the winning penalty in Australia’s shootout win over France in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, hasn’t been called up for the Matildas since November 2025.
Inter-Confederation Play-Off Prelims
On 20 August, Fifa drew the matches for the inter-confederation preliminary that will take place between 24 November and 5 December 2026. Six nations will play three matches each in a six-team league table. The top two finishes will advance to the inter-confederation play-off finals in February 2027.
Matchday 1
Uzbekistan v Papua New Guinea
Chinese Taipei v South Africa
Ghana v Ecuador
Matchday 2
Uzbekistan v Ghana
South Africa v Ecuador
Papua New Guinea v Chinese Taipei
Matchday 3
South Africa v Uzbekistan
Papua New Guinea v Ghana
Chinese Taipei v Ecuador
Key dates
Uefa Play-Offs: 9 to 13 October
In the next Fifa international window, Uefa qualification will continue with Round 1 of its two-legged knockout matches. There are 32 nations still in the hunt.
Uefa has 11 total automatic spots at the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with four already spoken for. There are seven more automatic spots available through the Uefa Play-Offs with other one spot at the Fifa inter-confederation play-off also available.
World Cup match schedule revealed
Even though we’re waiting to fill the final qualification spots for the World Cup, the match schedule for Brazil 2027 has been confirmed.
The tournament will be taking place across eight host cities with each city staging a minimum of seven matches, including one knockout game.
Hosts Brazil will play their group-stage games in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasília, while the famous Estádio do Maracanã will host the opening match and final.
The Maracanã will become only the third stadium to host both a men’s World Cup final and a Women’s World Cup final, joining the now-demolished Råsunda Stadium in Sweden (1958 and 1995) and the Rose Bowl in California, USA (1994 and 1999).
The full match schedule is available on Fifa’s website.
We’ll be back next month with more World Cup updates.