Head-to-head battle for World Cup spot: Eight Bayer 04 women on international duty

The matches in the first round of the World Cup play-offs for European nations will take place on Friday 9 October and Tuesday 13 October. The first leg between Kosovo, featuring Bayer 04 midfielder Misini, and Austria, featuring centre-back Wenger, will be played in Pristina, with the second leg in Vienna. Austria finished third in qualifying Group A3, while Kosovo won the lower-tier Group C2.

Sternad and Tomasiak also hoping for world cup slots

Forward Maja Sternad will face Turkey with Slovenia, first in Istanbul and then in Domžale. Slovenia finished fourth – and therefore last – in Group A3 alongside Wenger’s Austrian side, Germany and Norway, with Turkey coming second in Group B2. Paulina Tomasiak and the Polish national team – who finished fourth in Group A2 – face Belgium (who finished second in Group B4) in Leuven and Gdańsk.

The winners of the 16 first-round matches – divided into two separate paths – will progress to the second play-off round, which runs from 26 November to 5 December. The seven highest-ranked winners from this round, as determined by the league tables of the 2026 Women’s European Qualifiers, will qualify directly for the World Cup. The sole remaining winner out of the eight will have to go via the intercontinental play-offs. The European participant will enter the second phase of these intercontinental play-offs in February 2027.

Cornelia Kramer does not need to worry about that. The striker secured a World Cup slot back in June when Denmark topped Group A1. As a result, the Scandinavian side will play two friendly fixtures in North America against Canada instead of competitive matches.

Trio with germany U23s

A trio are set to represent the Germany U23 team this time. Loreen Bender, Estrella Merino Gonzalez and Sofie Zdebel will face Scotland in Linlithgow this coming Thursday as part of a training camp, before taking on Sweden in Bremen on Monday 12 October.

Overview of call-ups: