England miss automatic 2027 World Cup spot after Spain win

England missed automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup after Spain defeated them 6‑1 in Reykjavik. Defending world champions Spain have already secured their spot at the World Cup in Brazil. The loss forced the Lionesses into the play‑offs despite a 3‑0 win over Ukraine on Tuesday night. Spain topped League A3 on the head‑to‑head record, while England finished second with five wins and 15 points. Both teams won their home matches against each other, but England’s 1‑0 win was eclipsed by Spain’s 4‑0 victory on Friday. Sarina Wiegman said the competition in Europe is very high and expressed disappointment at missing automatic qualification. She added that the squad will now focus on preparing for the play‑offs. England will be seeded in the first play‑off round and will host the second leg against a League C group winner or a top‑ranked League C runner‑up. The draw is set for Thursday, 18 June, with ties scheduled for October, November and December. Potential opponents include Lithuania, Kosovo, Hungary, Greece, Romania, Belarus, Croatia and Kazakhstan. England will travel to face the selected side after the first leg. Wiegman selected Ella Toone over Lucia Kendall and Laura Blindkilde Brown for the midfield against Spain. Lucy Bronze of Chelsea started at right‑back despite a pre‑match injury, and Beth Mead entered as a substitute to score against Ukraine. Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp and Lauren James formed a frontline that struggled to create chances, while England’s midfield was described as passive. Defender Esme Morgan was the only player singled out positively in the analysis. Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live that she is absolutely convinced England can match Spain if they meet again next year. She warned that an off‑day against a top side can jeopardise World Cup qualification.