England took a significant step towards the next round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 European play-offs with a 3-1 victory over Greece in the first leg on Friday. Goals from Georgia Stanway, Maya Le Tissier and Alessia Russo gave the Lionesses a two-goal cushion, but Kallisti Brouksair’s late strike ensured Greece retained a measure of hope ahead of the return fixture in Leicester.
The result puts England in a favourable position heading into Tuesday’s second leg, although the visitors will know that their performance left room for improvement. Despite controlling significant periods of the contest, the 2023 World Cup runners-up were unable to prevent Greece from finding a late goal that could prove important in the overall tie.
For England manager Sarina Wiegman, the victory offered encouragement while exposing areas that require attention as the team pursues qualification for the tournament in Brazil. England entered the play-offs after missing out on automatic qualification, with only the winners of the four League A groups securing direct entry from the European qualifying phase.
England faced a determined Greek side that attempted to limit space and frustrate the visitors through an aggressive defensive approach. The Lionesses had to remain patient before Georgia Stanway broke the deadlock in the first half, rewarding England’s sustained attacking pressure. The opening goal gave England greater control of the contest, but Greece continued to compete and looked for opportunities to threaten on the counterattack.
The hosts’ defensive structure made it difficult for England to turn possession into clear-cut chances consistently. After the break, England increased the pressure and found greater efficiency in the final third. Maya Le Tissier doubled the visitors’ advantage, giving the Lionesses a more comfortable platform and strengthening their grip on the tie. Alessia Russo then added a third goal to put England firmly in control.
The striker’s contribution was another positive development for Wiegman, with Russo continuing to provide an important attacking outlet as England seek to build momentum ahead of the next stage of qualifying. However, England’s defensive concentration faltered late in the match. Kallisti Brouksair pulled a goal back for Greece, reducing the deficit to 3-1 and giving the home side a reason to believe they could make the return leg more competitive.
The goal also highlighted a recurring concern for England: turning periods of dominance into a more decisive advantage. While three away goals put the Lionesses in a strong position, conceding at a crucial stage prevented them from carrying an even greater cushion into the second leg.
Despite the victory, Wiegman was clear that England could have delivered a more complete performance. The manager praised her players for remaining composed against Greece’s aggressive approach but acknowledged that the team needed to improve its movement and precision in possession. “We started well, they started very aggressive too, but we stayed calm. That’s what I’m the most pleased with. I think we have a couple of things to work on too,” Wiegman said.
She also pointed to missed opportunities that could have made the result more convincing. “At moments in the game we weren’t tight enough, the ball wasn’t moving quick enough… I think if we would have created these opportunities we had, we could have scored so many more goals.” Her assessment reflected the balance between England’s attacking quality and the need for greater consistency. Against opponents prepared to defend deep, quicker circulation of the ball and sharper decision-making in the final third could prove decisive.
The Lionesses must navigate two rounds of European play-offs to secure their place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil. England will host Greece in the return leg at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Tuesday, October 13. If England progresses, it will face either Ukraine or Slovakia in the second round. Ukraine won the first leg of that tie 3-1, putting itself in a strong position ahead of the return fixture. The second round is scheduled to take place between November 26 and December 5.
Under UEFA’s qualification system, seven of the eight second-round winners will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the remaining team will advance to the intercontinental play-offs. Elsewhere in the opening round, the Republic of Ireland recorded an emphatic 8-0 victory over Kazakhstan, while Scotland defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 away from home. Wales secured a 1-0 win against Albania, and Norway beat Romania 2-0.
The Netherlands also registered an 8-0 victory over Hungary, while Switzerland defeated Israel 7-3. England have the advantage, but defensive lapses remain a concern. England’s 3-1 victory gives the Lionesses a valuable advantage, but the late goal conceded to Greece serves as a reminder that qualification cannot be taken for granted. Their attacking depth was evident through goals from Stanway, Le Tissier and Russo, yet the team’s inability to convert more of its opportunities left the tie more open than it might have been.
For Wiegman, the return leg presents an opportunity to address the shortcomings without losing the attacking intent that secured the first-leg win. England must combine quicker passing with greater precision in front of goal and improved defensive concentration. With a place in the second round at stake, the Lionesses have positioned themselves well. The next challenge is to turn that advantage into qualification and maintain their pursuit of a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
