Malta have been placed in Group B2 alongside Switzerland, Northern Ireland and Türkiye for the Women’s European Qualifiers leading to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 4 November 2025.
The Women’s National Team will compete in League B after topping Group C2 in the UEFA Women’s Nations League earlier this year, a campaign that delivered promotion under head coach Manuela Tesse for the second time in her tenure. Building on that momentum, Malta will aim to continue their upward trajectory against higher-ranked opposition in the league phase.
Reflecting on the draw, Tesse said: “It could have been better, but it could have been worse. We knew that when you move up a level, you will face strong teams. We will prepare the best way possible. We were already in League B before so we can use that experience and take it to the pitch.”
The league stage mirrors the Women’s Nations League format, with 53 teams divided across three leagues. League A features 16 teams, League B 16 teams, and League C 21 teams. Each group is played on a home and away basis over six matchdays. In principle, the matchdays are set for Tuesday 3 March 2026, Saturday 7 March 2026, Tuesday 14 April 2026, Saturday 18 April 2026, Friday 5 June 2026 and Tuesday 9 June 2026.
UEFA will have 11 direct places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with a further European nation able to qualify through FIFA’s intercontinental play-offs. Final group positions and overall league rankings at the end of the league phase will determine which teams qualify automatically and which advance to the playoff path, as well as seeding for those playoffs.
