By OkayGoal
England will meet France, Austria and Portugal in the group stage of the 2027 UEFA Women’s Nations League after Tuesday’s draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon. Sarina Wiegman’s side were placed in League A, Group 2, and will play each of their three opponents twice, once at home and once away, during the first half of next year.
The Football Association has confirmed that the group games will be spread across three international windows. Matchdays one and two fall between 23 February and 6 March 2027, matchdays three and four between 13 and 24 April, and the last two rounds between 7 and 15 June. Individual dates and venues are still to be announced.
What is at stake
This is the third edition of the competition, and once again it forms part of the qualifying route for major tournaments, this time Euro 2029 and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Only the four group winners in League A go through to the semi-finals, which are pencilled in for October 2027. The final and the third-place match follow between late November and early December.
None of the three opponents will be unfamiliar. England met Portugal in the previous Nations League campaign, France were their first opponents at Euro 2025, and Austria faced the Lionesses at Euro 2022 and again in World Cup qualifying shortly afterwards.
Wiegman relishes the France test
Wiegman, who agreed fresh terms running to 2029 in October, picked out France as the standout name in the group. “They’re a world-class team,” she told the FA’s official website. “They have so much quality, they have power, they have technique and they have some players, of course, also playing in the WSL and at other top clubs.”
She added: “So it’s exciting to play them because you will be challenged in the highest possible way and that’s what makes us better.”
The head coach also highlighted how adaptable Portugal can be. “They’re a team who can change their style from playing a possession game to being a little more direct,” she said. As for Austria, England have not played them since early 2024, and Wiegman sees a side on the way back up, noting that “now they’re finding the top level again and will definitely be difficult opponents across in both fixtures.”
World Cup play-off comes first
The Nations League is still several months away. Before it begins, England have a two-legged World Cup qualifying play-off against Ukraine in December, with a ticket to next summer’s finals in Brazil up for grabs. “Of course, we want to qualify [for the World Cup] first when we play Ukraine in December,” Wiegman said.
For more on the national team, read our reports Bedford Keeps England Focused as U20 World Cup Uncertainty Grows and Nike Taps Williamson to Host NYC England Watch Party.
How the other home nations fared
Scotland are also in the top tier and, as BBC Sport reports, will take on Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden in Group 4. The Republic of Ireland were drawn with Spain, Norway and Switzerland in Group 1, while Wales will face Denmark, Italy and Iceland in Group 3. Northern Ireland are in League B, where Poland, Finland and Belarus make up Group 3.
