June 9, 2026
France’s forward #09 Melvine Malard (C) celebrates with team mates after scoring a goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Europe Zone Qualifiers League A Group 2 football match between France and the Republic of Ireland at the Stade des Alpes stadium in Grenoble, French Alps, on June 9, 2026. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)
World champions Spain and France booked their tickets to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday, but England missed out on automatic qualification despite beating Ukraine.
Spain thumped Iceland 6-1 in Reykjavik with Vicky Lopez scoring twice. Edna Imade, Salma Paralluelo, Claudia Pina and Aitana Bonmati were also on target to seal first place in qualifying group A3.
Melvine Malard scored the only goal for France in a 1-0 home win over the Republic of Ireland on the final day of European qualifying to clinch their berth to a fifth World Cup in a row.
