England thumped Ukraine 3‑0 in Reykjavik, but the win held no weight for automatic qualification. With only one group match left, the Lionesses depended on Iceland's result. Spain, however, demolished Iceland 6‑1, securing the top spot in League A3 and a direct berth to the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The result underscored the high stakes of the Nations League, where a single loss can derail a team’s World Cup hopes ahead of the final qualifying round.

Spain topped the group thanks to a better head‑to‑head record against England. Both sides beat each other at home, but England’s 1‑0 win was eclipsed by Spain’s 4‑0 triumph over visitors. The 15 points earned by England left them second, forcing a two‑stage play‑off campaign to reach Brazil ahead of the final qualification deadline soon.

Coach Sarina Wiegman admitted the loss highlighted the gap between England and Spain when the latter perform at peak. She praised the squad’s overall strength, noting 13 goals scored and only five conceded, yet acknowledged that the tight draw with the world champions left no margin for error. Play‑offs now loom before the autumn international break on.

England faces a compressed timetable, with play‑off draws set for 18 June and matches scheduled for October, November and December. The team will be seeded against a League C group winner or top runner‑up, potentially hosting the second leg. Success here will secure their place in Brazil, while failure could knock them out entirely in 2027.