Spain close out their European qualifying campaign for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Reykjavik tonight with an equation that is as simple as it is demanding: beat Iceland and reach Brazil without depending on anyone else. The match is played at the Laugardalsvöllur at 9pm mainland Spanish time (8pm in the Canary Islands, 7pm in Iceland) and is the sixth and final matchday of Group A3. It will be shown free-to-air on RTVE’s La 2 (from 8.55pm) and on RTVE Play.
What is at stake for Spain
Spain arrive top of the group after their 4-0 thrashing of England at Son Moix, a result that handed them back first place and, with it, control of their own fate. Spain and England are level on 12 points, but Sonia Bermúdez’s side lead on goal difference: 15 scored, 2 conceded, a balance of +13 against England’s +5.
The rule for this stage allows no nuance: only the winner of each League A group qualifies directly for the World Cup. Everyone else drops into a long play-off route, with semi-finals and a final against theoretically weaker opponents, but with no margin for error.
England play at the same time in Liverpool, against bottom side Ukraine (still without a point), at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Everton’s new ground. That makes Spain’s permutations these:
- If they win, they are at the World Cup, whatever happens in Liverpool. Even if England also win, they could only draw level on points, never overtake Spain, because the head-to-head record favours Spain (4-0 at Son Moix against the 1-0 England win at Wembley).
- If they draw, they qualify unless England beat Ukraine.
- If they lose, they need England to lose too.
Any outcome other than a win, then, means keeping one eye on the Lionesses.
How Spain arrive
Sonia Bermúdez’s team land in Iceland in their best form of the campaign. The 4-0 win over England — with goals from Patri Guijarro, Claudia Pina and a brace from Alexia Putellas — was one of their most complete performances and restored the sense of a team switched on for the decisive stretch. Across the group, Spain have won four of their five matches: they opened with a 3-0 win over Iceland, beat Ukraine, lost narrowly at Wembley and responded to reach the final matchday in control of their own destiny.
The squad keeps the recognisable backbone of the world champions: Cata Coll and Misa Rodríguez in goal; Irene Paredes, Ona Batlle, Mapi León and Olga Carmona at the back; Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro and Mariona Caldentey in midfield; and up front Claudia Pina, Salma Paralluelo, Esther González, Athenea del Castillo, Eva Navarro, Vicky López and Edna Imade.
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How Iceland arrive
Iceland sit third on 6 points, already assured of a play-off place, and cannot reach top spot. But the context does not soften the challenge: they play at home, on the final matchday, against one of Europe’s heavyweights. Spain’s coaching staff have flagged their hallmarks: aerial power, intensity in duels, danger from set pieces and quick transitions to spark the game in just a few metres.
Spain already beat this same opponent on the opening matchday: a 3-0 win on 3 March at the SkyFi Castalia stadium in Castellón, with a brace from Claudia Pina (39th and 54th minutes) and a goal from Edna Imade (76th). That match also left a warning for the return: Iceland held out for much of the game before Spain’s quality eventually told. The venue and the competitive stakes now paint a different picture.
The keys
- The first factor will be Spain’s rhythm on the ball: settling early in the opposition half, avoiding turnovers that feed Iceland’s transitions, and turning their dominance into clear chances. Going ahead would ease much of the pressure.
- The second is the boxes. Iceland will look to do damage from crosses, free-kicks and corners; Spain will need the precision they found against England: patient circulation, runners arriving from deep and a clinical edge in the final metres.
- And the third is mental. Spain come off a big win and depend only on themselves, but they have closed out nothing yet. The direct reward only comes if they finish the job in Reykjavik.
Spain are chasing a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance after Canada 2015, France 2019 and Australia & New Zealand 2023, where they lifted their first world title. The qualifying campaign opened in March against Iceland and could be sealed tonight against the same opponent. The match that looked harder — England — is already won; what remains is the one that allows no distractions.
Match facts
- Fixture: Iceland v Spain
- Competition: European qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup — Group A3, matchday 6 (final)
- Date: Tuesday 9 June 2026
- Kick-off: 9pm (mainland Spain) / 8pm (Canary Islands) / 7pm (Iceland)
- Stadium: Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavik (opened in 1959, capacity around 10,000)
- Referee: Miriama Bočková (Slovakia). No VAR
- TV and streaming: RTVE’s La 2 (coverage from 8.55pm) and RTVE Play
- The other group match: England v Ukraine, at the same time, at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (Liverpool)
Group A3 standings (before the final matchday)
| Team | Points | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 12 | +13 |
| England | 12 | +5 |
| Iceland | 6 | |
| Ukraine | 0 |