by The Women’s European Qualifiers league draws were held yesterday, setting groups in all three leagues with matches set to run between February and June of 2026. Malta will face Switzerland, Northern Ireland and Turkey in a double-bid to retain a place in League B and challenge for a step forward toward FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualification.
The Draw & What’s At Stake
The Women’s European Qualifiers league draws were held yesterday, setting groups in all three leagues with matches set to run between February and June of 2026.
The four Group A winners will secure their place in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Brazil, but the league qualifiers will determine which of the 32 teams to go into the play-offs for qualification to be held between October and December of 2026. They encompass seven further direct final spots, as well as one more place in the inter-confederation play-offs. The league matches will also serve in a double-manner, with promotion and relegation also at stake ahead of the next UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Malta will be competing in League B, following its second promotion from League C last June, after topping the group against Cyprus, Georgia and Andorra.
It will compete in Group B2, where it will meet Turkey and Northern Ireland who retained their place in League B, while Switzerland drop from League A.
Malta & Switzerland shared a 2 – 2 draw in 2020, with goals by Stephania Farrugia and Ylenia Carabott equalled by a brace from Irina Pando. However, the Swiss have flown high as hosts during the last UEFA Women’s EURO. There will be some new waters to wade though, as the side will be under new leadership with Pia Sundhage’s contract terminated in the last hours.
Turkey have managed to retain their place in League B, with the team being one of the few managing to consolidate their place following promotion from League C. Malta is also no stranger to the side, having met in friendlies in 2020.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland retained their place and were a common foe in Malta’s maiden adventure in League B, with the two expected to rekindle the rivalry in the group. The two finished in a goalless stalemate in the opening match of the group in Windsor Park, before the Irish secured their place in League B and confirmed Malta’s relegation at the Centenary Stadium in the reverse match.
The Path To The World Cup
The winner of the group will be promoted to League A, while the bottom-placed team will be automatically relegated to League C. Additionally, the two lowest-ranked third-placed teams in League B, will also be relegated.
Those avoiding relegation, will compete in play-offs for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifications, which will be split into two rounds. In the first round, the four fourth-placed teams of League A and four first-placed teams of League B play against the four second-placed teams and four third-placed teams of League B. In round 1 of the play-offs, the ties are determined by means of a draw.
The winners in round 1 play-offs will qualify for the second-round, which will set them against the remaining eight teams of League A that will not have already qualified (placed second and third in the league phase).
Malta is ranked 30th in League B, only above Montenegro and Latvia. The qualifier’s league stage match days are penned in as follows for 2026:
Matchday 1: Tuesday 3 March
Matchday 2: Saturday 7 March
Matchday 3: Tuesday 14 April
Matchday 4: Saturday 18 April
Matchday 5: Friday 5 June
Matchday 6: Tuesday 9 June
Lead Image: Dorienne Grech
Stay up to date by following The Sporting Fan on social media: Instagram ~ Facebook ~ X
