Türkiye Will Play Slovenia in World Cup Qualifying
The two sides will face off in a two-legged playoff tie beginning on October 9, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Soccer
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Türkiye prepares to face Slovenia in a two-legged UEFA Women's World Cup qualifying play-off tie starting October 9, 2026. The winner of this contest will advance to the second round of the play-offs as teams compete for a spot in the 2027 tournament.
Why it matters
Qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup remains a historic objective for Türkiye, as the national team has never previously appeared in the tournament. Success in this play-off is the only path for these nations to keep their World Cup dreams alive through the European play-off structure.
Türkiye enters this tie after finishing second in League B of the UEFA Nations League behind Switzerland. The eventual winner of this series will face either the Netherlands or Hungary in the second round.
The players
Türkiye women's national football team
This national squad is seeking its first-ever qualification for a FIFA Women's World Cup appearance.
Slovenia women's national football team
The national team is competing in the UEFA play-offs to advance toward the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Selen Altunkulak
At 28 years old, she is a professional footballer who currently plays for the French club Toulouse.
The details
The first match of the tie is hosted in Türkiye, followed by a return leg in Slovenia. These matches represent a crucial stage in the European path to the FIFA Women's World Cup, which will be held in Brazil in 2027.
Timeline
October 9, 2026: The first leg of the play-off tie takes place in Türkiye.
October 13, 2026: The return leg of the play-off tie is held in Slovenia.
Season Trajectory
This play-off tie marks a critical juncture in the European qualifying path for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. The outcome will determine which nation remains in contention for a spot in Brazil, significantly impacting the competitive landscape of the UEFA region.
The winner of this tie moves on to a second-round match against either the Netherlands or Hungary. Failure to advance here ends the World Cup campaign for the losing side, while the victor keeps their path to the 2027 tournament in Brazil alive.
The takeaway
The two-legged format places high stakes on both the home and away legs for the participating teams. Fans should monitor the outcome of these matches to see which side keeps its pursuit of a 2027 World Cup spot alive in the second round.
Further reading
For more information on the qualification process, visit the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fifa.
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