How do Women's World Cup hopes look for home nations?

England came away from Greece with a valuable 3-1 lead in their first 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off tie – a result they will look to convert into an aggregate win this week.

Georgia Stanway, Maya le Tissier and Alessia Russo were on the scoresheet in the away game.

The second leg will be played at home, at King Power Stadium in Leicester, on Tuesday, 13 October at 19:30 BST.

Commentary will be on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Should England beat Greece over two games, they will face the winners of Slovakia v Ukraine, with the away fixture played first.

The exact dates of the potential second-leg fixtures are to be confirmed, although they will take place between 26 November and 5 December 2026.

England head coach Wiegman named her initial squad last month, with Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly notable absentees, although Toone later received a call-up after Lucy Bronze left the squad with a slight injury.

When asked why the two stalwarts were initially left out, Wiegman said: “They have not been playing to their full potential.

“Of course, I still believe in these players. They are really good and have shown so much for us.”

Toone featured on the bench but did not make it on to the pitch in Heraklion.

Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland are also involved in the play-offs as they chase World Cup places.

In the first legs, Scotland beat the Czech Republic 2-0, Wales defeated Albania 1-0, Northern Ireland lost 4-0 to Portugal while the Republic of Ireland thrashed Kazakhstan 8-0.

As with England, the second legs of these ties take place on Tuesday.

Wales face Albania at 19:15 BST – with coverage on BBC One Wales from 19:00 BST.

Scotland play the Czech Republic at 19:15 BST, available to watch on BBC Scotland from 19:00 BST.

Northern Ireland take on Portugal at 19:15 BST.

The Republic of Ireland play Kazakhstan at 19:30 BST.

Despite England securing five wins from their six qualifying matches, world champions Spain finished top of the Lionesses’ group and secured the one automatic spot.

England did not want to go through the play-offs but were given an unkind draw in the qualifying groups when they met world champions Spain.

However, Wiegman’s side are in a strong position for the play-offs and, armed with their handy first-leg lead, are firm favourites to progress against Greece, who sit 55 places beneath them in the Fifa world rankings.

England also beat potential round two opponents Ukraine in both matches in the qualifying group stage, with an aggregate 9-1 score.

Northern Ireland were always in for a tricky tie against a talented young squad from Portugal in round one, and their prospects do not look good with a 4-0 deficit to take into the second leg, away from home. Head coach Michael McArdle suggested it has become an “impossible” task.

Scotland are hoping to reach just their second Women’s World Cup, after a 2019 appearance. They failed to qualify in 2023 but have performed well this year, including drawing with Belgium, showing that they can compete with some of Europe’s strongest teams.

They would need to produce their best in round two if they meet big-hitters Sweden, who have been semi-finalists in the past two Women’s World Cups.

Wales have never beaten a team ranked inside the world’s top 20 in a competitive fixture and are likely to need to do so to qualify.

There is optimism, though, as Rhian Wilkinson’s side thrashed play-off opponents Albania 4-0 in their qualifying group and already have a first-leg lead.

Elsewhere, having performed superbly in qualifying, the Republic of Ireland have a tough play-off route with Belgium potentially waiting in round two.

Carla Ward’s side navigated a 3,100-mile trip to Kazakhstan for the first leg in round one and have an impressive 8-0 lead so will already be thinking ahead.

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women’s Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women’s Super League and beyond on the Women’s Football Weekly feed