The following version of the Ladies’s World Cup could also be two years away however the upcoming event is rapidly turning into high of thoughts for lots of the world’s nationwide groups, for whom the preparation begins now to make sure they put collectively a robust exhibiting in Brazil.
That’s very true for the U.S. ladies’s nationwide group, who’ve used this yr off from main competitors to vet new expertise and experiment with recent tactical concepts with the hopes of winning the World Cup for the first time since 2019. The four-time world champions are as soon as once more a high contender for the game’s high prize at this stage, particularly so after successful Olympic gold in Paris final yr and returning to the highest of the FIFA rankings. The USWNT’s period of experimentation has solely bolstered this perception – head coach Emma Hayes has launched a number of new gamers to the fold, a lot of whom have impressed alongside the best way and are within the early levels of creating an affordable case for his or her inclusion on the World Cup roster in two years’ time.
Hayes, although, is mainly being tasked with evolving the USWNT in a interval of fast progress within the ladies’s sport. Because the 2023 World Cup and, to a lesser diploma, the 2025 Ladies’s Euro demonstrated, the sport is extra aggressive than ever and there are a number of real looking contenders for the World Cup title in 2027. The USWNT positively occupy a spot in a small class of elites at this level within the four-year cycle however they’re most definitely not alone. England’s win over Spain in Sunday’s Women’s Euro final demonstrates as a lot, whereas groups in numerous components of the globe even have an argument.
With the countdown to the 2027 Ladies’s World Cup effectively and really underway, here’s a have a look at the groups that might problem the USWNT for the title.
England
The back-to-back European champions are an apparent inclusion on this listing based mostly on recency bias alone however England have effectively and really grow to be a real contender since Sarina Wiegman took over head teaching duties after the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The Lionesses have a batch of spectacular expertise, led by Alessia Russo and Lauren James in addition to up-and-comer Michelle Agyemang. Wiegman has grow to be a specialist at main tournaments, steering her groups to 5 of the final six main event finals she has taken half in, discovering methods to win in quite a lot of strategies. That features the gritty and unglamorous manner that England opted for at this summer season’s Euro and particularly so towards Spain within the closing, balancing that with a formidable resolve to return from behind in three of their six video games in Switzerland. It’s a good mixture of tangible and intangibles that makes them an actual competitor for his or her first World Cup title in 2027.
Spain
Rounding out a bunch of elites that features the USWNT and England is Spain, the reigning World Cup winners. Sunday’s loss in Switzerland might have been a setback of types for La Roja however it didn’t truly diminish the truth that they’re one of many world’s high groups. Their trademark possession-oriented model makes one of the vital entertaining sides to observe and is extraordinarily efficient, permitting them to cruise to the semifinals of the Euro earlier than assembly some obstacles. There shall be actual classes to remove from the Euro, particularly because it pertains to outmaneuvering defensive groups, however these are fixable issues. Contemplating the muse they’ve to unravel these points, Spain might nonetheless realistically arrive in Brazil because the favorites to win the World Cup in two years’ time.
Germany
The 2-time World Cup winners will seemingly arrive in Brazil desperate to craft a redemption arc after exiting the 2023 version within the group stage, and can have the arrogance to take action by way of their current performances. They received bronze in Paris final yr and made a run to the semifinals on the Euro this summer season, the latter virtually unbelievable contemplating an harm disaster and suspensions that plagued their run in Switzerland. Their capacity to make it to the penultimate stage of the Ladies’s Euro, although, is as robust an indication as any that Germany can compete and in the event that they make it to the World Cup at full energy, count on them to have a shot at successful their first title since 2007.
Brazil
Residence area benefit can carry groups a great distance no matter their potential, however Brazil’s ceiling is increased than the common host nation. Very similar to Hayes with the USWNT, head coach Arthur Elias is ushering in a brand new era of gamers and already has an Olympic medal to indicate for it. Friendlies will make up most of their preparation however at this early stage, they have already got a 2-1 over the USWNT in April to boast about. In the event that they add extra notable outcomes to that listing, in addition to discover a solution to win a fifth successive Copa America Femenina title this summer season, they’ll undoubtedly be a group to control in 2027.