Women’s World Cup playoffs: England land Greece, Scotland get Czechia in first round

• England to play Ukraine or Slovakia if they beat Greece

• Scotland probably face Sweden if they win first game

England will need to overcome Greece and either Slovakia or Ukraine to qualify for 2027’s Women’s World Cup, while Scotland were handed a significantly tougher-looking draw and will probably need to beat Sweden, one of women’s football’s most successful nations, if they first beat Czechia, to qualify for next year’s finals in Brazil.

Thursday’s playoff draw brought Wales a potential reunion with their former manager Gemma Grainger’s Norway side in another tricky draw. Northern Ireland’s path to a first World Cup next summer could bring them a game against the League A team Iceland.

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