Poland kept their hopes of reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup alive with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Belgium, as Ewa Pajor delivered a match-winning performance in Gdańsk on Tuesday. After a pulsating second leg finished 3-2 to Poland after extra time, leaving the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, the hosts prevailed 4-3 in the shootout to advance to the next round of European qualifying play-offs.
With a place in the next qualifying round at stake, Poland had to overturn Belgium’s 1-0 advantage from the first leg. The home side responded with urgency at Polsat Plus Arena, and Pajor, the Barcelona forward and Poland captain, provided the breakthrough in the 42nd minute, finishing from a corner to give her side renewed belief. Belgium, however, responded early in the second half through Amy Little, whose 51st-minute equaliser restored the visitors’ advantage in the tie. Poland needed another goal to keep their qualification hopes on track, and Paulina Tomasiak supplied it in the 67th minute with a long-range strike that put the hosts ahead on the night.
Neither side could settle the contest in regulation time, and the match moved into extra time with the aggregate score level. Belgium’s Jarne Teulings struck in the 105th minute to make it 2-2 on the night, once again placing Poland under pressure. Just when the contest appeared to be slipping away, Pajor stepped forward again. The forward scored in the 116th minute to restore Poland’s lead and complete her brace, taking the score to 3-2 after extra time. The goal levelled the aggregate score at 3-3 and forced a penalty shootout to determine which team would progress.
With neither team able to separate themselves over the two legs, the decisive moments came from the penalty spot. Poland converted four penalties to Belgium’s three, with goalkeeper Kinga Seweryn playing a crucial role in securing the victory and sending the home supporters into celebration. The result capped a demanding evening for Poland, who had to recover from the first-leg deficit, withstand Belgium’s responses and find a late extra-time goal before holding their nerve in the shootout. Pajor’s two goals proved central to the turnaround, while Tomasiak’s contribution in the second half ensured Poland remained in contention.
The victory was also a significant moment for Pajor, whose attacking influence once again demonstrated her importance to the national team. Her ability to deliver under pressure gave Poland the decisive edge in a contest that remained finely balanced until the final kick.
According to UEFA’s official round-one review, Poland’s 3-2 extra-time win and 4-3 shootout success made their tie against Belgium the most dramatic encounter of the opening play-off round. Poland face Republic of Ireland in next qualifying round. Poland will now face the Republic of Ireland in the second round of the European play-offs, with the two-legged tie scheduled between November 26 and December 5, 2026. The winner will move closer to securing a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The qualification process remains demanding. Four European teams, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain, have already secured direct qualification by winning their respective League A groups. Seven additional European teams will qualify directly through the play-offs, while another will advance to the inter-confederation play-off tournament.
For Poland, the victory over Belgium provides momentum ahead of a crucial showdown with Ireland. However, the challenge will require the team to reproduce the resilience shown in Gdańsk across both legs of the next tie. Belgium, meanwhile, will be left to reflect on a match in which they twice put Poland under pressure but could not protect their advantage over the full contest.
Pajor’s leadership keeps Poland’s World Cup dream alive. Poland’s victory was a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in international football. Trailing from the first leg, the hosts needed composure, attacking intent and the ability to respond whenever Belgium threatened to take control. Pajor supplied the goals, Tomasiak delivered a crucial contribution, and Seweryn helped settle the contest in the shootout. For Pajor, the performance reinforced her status as a key figure in Poland’s World Cup ambitions.
For the team, the result offered more than progression: it demonstrated the resilience required to survive knockout football, where a single mistake or moment of brilliance can determine an entire campaign. The next challenge against the Republic of Ireland will test whether Poland can turn that dramatic comeback into sustained progress. With qualification for Brazil still to be earned, the celebrations in Gdańsk mark an important step rather than the end of the journey.
