2027 Women's World Cup Qualifiers: German Dominance, Switzerland and Sweden with Full Points

The inauguration of the qualifiers for the women's World Cup, to be held in Brazil in 2027, brought many emotions and several one-sided spectacles. The match between Germany and Slovenia resonated the most. The German team, playing under the guidance of their new head coach, presented offensive and extremely effective football. Media across the Oder River emphasize that it was a true show of strength from a team wanting to erase the bad impression from previous tournaments. A special moment of the match was the debut of Larissa Mühlhaus, who, in her first appearance for the DFB, got on the scoresheet. The German press describes this performance as a „goal festival,” highlighting the role of Linda Dallmann as the driving force in midfield. At the same time, another important sporting event took place in Switzerland. The national team of that country, led for the first time in a competitive match by coach Navarro, defeated Northern Ireland 2:0. Although the score suggests full control, Swiss media, including SRF and Neue Zürcher Zeitung, are restrained in their praise. They point to a lack of fluidity in play and numerous technical errors that, against a stronger opponent, could have resulted in dropped points. However, the objective was achieved, and the new coach can calmly plan the next steps in building the team. The 2027 Women's World Cup will be the tenth edition of the tournament and the first in history to be held in South America. Brazil was awarded the hosting rights during the FIFA Congress in 2024, defeating a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Completely different moods prevail in Italy. The squad led by Andrea Soncin lost an extremely important clash with Sweden. The coach of the Italian women's team expressed deep regret after the match, claiming that his team dictated the play and deserved a better result. This defeat is particularly painful because Sweden is a direct rival in the fight for direct qualification. Now Italy must seek points in matches against lower-ranked opponents, while also hoping for a stumble by the Scandinavians. Simultaneously, a fierce battle between Ireland and France was taking place at Tallaght Stadium. This match, advertised as a tough test for the hosts, confirmed the high quality of the French players, who from the start of the campaign are aiming for the podium at the world championship. The campaign started this way shows that the balance of power in women's football is stabilizing, and the powerhouses have no intention of giving up ground. „Es ist ein unglaubliches Gefühl, beim Debüt für Deutschland ein Tor zu erzielen. Das ist ein wahr gewordener Traum.” (It's an incredible feeling to score a goal on my debut for Germany. It's a dream come true.) — Larissa Mühlhaus An interesting side story in the Irish media was the situation of Katie McCabe, captain of the Republic of Ireland national team. Reports emerged about her possible departure from London's Arsenal, coinciding with the national team's key match. Despite the transfer speculation, the player remained focused on the national team game, as emphasized by the head coach. These competitions are also being broadcast by major public broadcasters, exemplified by Germany's ARD, which decided to change its schedule to allow fans to follow their players' success live.