Ireland to face world champions Spain in 2027 Women's Nations League

by · The42

THE REPUBLIC OF Ireland have been pitted against Spain, Norway and Switzerland for the 2027 Uefa Women’s Nations League.

Carla Ward’s side discovered their Group A1 opponents in this afternoon’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland.

It’s an extremely tough, but incredibly exciting, draw. Spain are the reigning world champions, ranked number one in the Fifa women’s world rankings. Norway are 13th, while Switzerland sit 26th – with Ireland in between in 21st.

Spain won the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Nations League, and boast some of the world’s best players including three-time Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. 

La Roja are the headline opponents, but Norway and Switzerland will also provide stern tests as major tournament regulars with star-studded squads.

Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d'Or last week. Alamy Stock PhotoAlamy Stock Photo

The four group winners progress to the Nations League semi-finals next autumn, and also qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The bottom side are relegated to League B, while the third-place finishers contest a promotion/relegation play-off, with the competition directly linked to Euro 2029 qualifying.

Full fixture details will be confirmed later this month, but the windows are February/March, April and June 2027. 

  • Matchdays 1 & 2: 23 February – 6 March 2027
  • Matchdays 3 & 4: 13 – 24 April 2027
  • Matchdays 5 & 6: 7 – 15 June 2027

Ireland’s immediate focus is next month’s World Cup play-off final against Poland.

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The Girls in Green travel to Gdańsk for the first leg on Tuesday 1 December, before the return tie at Aviva Stadium on Saturday 5 December as they bid to reach back-to-back World Cup finals.

The tournament gets underway in Brazil on 24 June next summer, hot on the heels of the final Nations League group games.

Northern Ireland were drawn against Poland, Finland and Belarus in Group B3.

2027 Uefa Women’s Nations League Draw

League A

Group A1

  • Spain
  • Norway
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Switzerland

Group A2

  • France
  • England
  • Austria
  • Portugal

Group A3

  • Denmark
  • Italy
  • Iceland
  • Wales

Group A4

  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Sweden
  • Scotland
Ireland head coach Carla Ward. Ryan Byrne / INPHORyan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

League B

Group B1

  • Serbia
  • Belgium
  • Albania
  • Romania

Group B2

  • Ukraine
  • Czechia
  • Greece
  • Lithuania

Group B3

  • Poland
  • Finland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Belarus

Group B4

  • Slovenia
  • Türkiye
  • Hungary
  • Kosovo

League C

Group C1

  • Slovakia
  • Croatia
  • Bulgaria
  • Gibraltar

Group C2

  • Latvia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
  • Liechtenstein

Group C3

  • Israel
  • Faroe Islands
  • North Macedonia
  • Andorra

Group C4

  • Luxembourg
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Estonia
  • San Marino

Group C5

  • Malta
  • Moldova
  • Cyprus

Group C6

  • Montenegro
  • Kazakhstan
  • Armenia

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