Why the Black Queens Can Still Qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup Despite WAFCON Exit
Ghana’s Black Queens suffered a 2–1 defeat to Malawi in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals and securing automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
However, the defeat has not ended Ghana’s hopes of reaching Brazil. The Black Queens still have a route to the World Cup through the play-offs, giving them another opportunity to qualify despite their WAFCON exit.
The 2026 WAFCON doubles as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The four teams that reach the semi-finals will earn automatic qualification for the global tournament.
Ghana’s defeat to Malawi means the Black Queens have lost that direct route.
However, the four quarter-final losers remain in contention through an additional qualification pathway. Ghana will face Côte d’Ivoire, who also exited at the quarter-final stage following a 2–1 defeat to Algeria, in an African play-off for a place in the intercontinental World Cup play-off tournament.
The match against Côte d’Ivoire will therefore be a crucial World Cup qualification decider for the Black Queens.
Ghana must quickly put the disappointment against Malawi behind them and focus on the next challenge. Victory over Côte d’Ivoire would keep the Black Queens’ World Cup hopes alive and send them into the next stage of qualification. Defeat, however, would end Ghana’s hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament.
The Black Queens are not the only African side taking the longer route to the World Cup.
Defending WAFCON champions Nigeria were also eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 1–0 defeat to Cameroon. The Super Falcons will face South Africa in another African play-off, with a place in the intercontinental World Cup play-off tournament at stake.
Cameroon, meanwhile, advanced to the WAFCON semi-finals and secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup.
What happens if Ghana wins the play-off?
Winning the African play-off would not automatically guarantee Ghana a place at the World Cup.
Instead, the Black Queens would advance to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament, where they would compete against teams from other confederations for one of the remaining World Cup places.
The intercontinental play-off tournament will be played in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for November and December 2026, followed by the final phase in February 2027.
A total of 10 teams will compete for the final three World Cup places. The two African representatives will join teams from the other FIFA confederations in the global play-off tournament.
The first phase will feature six teams — two from CAF, two from the AFC, one from CONMEBOL and one from the OFC.
The teams will be ranked before the draw, with the highest-ranked sides receiving a direct route into the final phase, while the remaining teams compete for the other available places.
This means Ghana would have to beat Côte d’Ivoire, then successfully navigate the intercontinental play-off tournament, to secure a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
It is a longer and more difficult route, but the dream remains alive.
The new qualification format provides African teams with additional opportunities to reach the expanded 32-team Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Brazil in 2027.
For Ghana, the path has become considerably more difficult following the defeat to Malawi, but the World Cup dream is far from over.
The immediate task for the Black Queens is clear: beat Côte d’Ivoire.
If Ghana overcome that hurdle, they will remain in contention for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Malawi defeat ended Ghana’s hopes of winning the WAFCON, but it did not end the Black Queens’ World Cup dream.
