Fifa changes 2027 Women's World Cup draw to separate top four seeds

Fifa has confirmed a change to the draw for the 2027 Women's World Cup that will keep the four highest-ranked teams apart until the semi-finals, as long as each finishes first in its group. The Guardian reported the decision on Wednesday, with the 32-team tournament's draw scheduled for 11 December in Rio de Janeiro.

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The identities of those four seeds are not yet settled. Spain lead the current rankings ahead of the United States, Germany and England, but the draw will use the updated standings published on 7 December. Both the Americans and England also still have to secure qualification. The same separation rule applied at the 48-team men's World Cup in 2026, where the four leading seeds all reached the semi-finals.

For the United States, qualification and an unchanged ranking would put them in the opposite half of the draw from defending champions Spain. If both then won their groups, they could only face each other in the final, scheduled for 25 July at the Maracana Stadium. The four-time champions play El Salvador on 27 November seeking the victory needed to qualify. Neither the US nor Spain won their group at the previous Women's World Cup.

England's route to qualification runs through a two-legged tie against Ukraine on 1 and 5 December. The 2023 runners-up currently sit 31 ranking points above fifth-placed Japan. If the top eight stays unchanged, Japan, France, hosts Brazil and Sweden would join the leading four in Pot 1. Sweden face Scotland in a December qualifying playoff, while ninth-ranked Canada could move into contention for a top-pot place.

Brazil will occupy Group A and play the opening match at the Maracana on 24 June. The draw will be held at Rio's Museum of Modern Art at 1.30pm local time on 11 December.

Below Pot 1, the next two sets of eight teams will enter Pots 2 and 3 in ranking order. Pot 4 will contain the lowest-ranked participants and three slots reserved for the inter-confederation playoff winners, who will be decided in March. Groups cannot contain two teams from the same continent, with the exception of Europe, which may supply up to two sides per group.