Austria's 1-0 victory against Germany on 18 April 2026 ended the latter's perfect streak in the ongoing Women's World Cup qualifiers for the 2027 tournament. This marked a significant shift in Group A4, where Germany had previously maintained a flawless record with substantial goal differences. The previous match between these two sides, on 14 April 2026, saw Germany secure a decisive 5-1 win.
Group A4 Standings See Rejig
The qualifier, played on 18 April 2026, saw Austria secure a vital win, though the scoreline was less emphatic than their previous encounter. This result impacts the dynamics of Group A4, where Germany had previously led with a +13 goal difference after victories over Slovenia (5-0) and Norway (4-0) in their opening qualifiers. The match on 14 April 2026 saw goals from Nicole Anyomi and Vivien Endemann for Germany, alongside an own goal by Austria's Sarah Puntigam, and finishes from Brand and Schueller. Austria's sole goal in that fixture came from Chiara D'Angelo.
Read More: Denver Nuggets Win First Playoff Game with Jamal Murray Scoring 30
Previous Encounters and Tournament Context
The qualifier on 18 April 2026 follows a series of matches in Matchday 3 of the UEFA Women's European Qualifiers. In that round, Germany had defeated Austria 5-1. Norway also secured a notable 5-0 win against Slovenia. This tournament is the pathway for European nations to secure berths in the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, scheduled to be held in Brazil. The qualifying rounds are set to conclude on 9 June 2026, with play-offs in October and December 2026.
Broader Qualifying Landscape
Elsewhere in the qualifiers, Denmark achieved a late victory against Sweden, while Switzerland maintained a perfect record in Group B2 with a 3-1 win over Türki̇ye. Portugal also held a perfect record in Group B3 with nine points. In Group C1, Lithuania moved to the top after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0, ending the latter's unblemished run. Hungary remained unbeaten at the summit of Group C3.
Read More: Man Utd beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on April 18
The results from Matchday 3 on 14 April 2026 indicated a strong performance from several teams:
| Group | Home Team | Away Team | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | Germany | Austria | 5-1 | Germany's strong attacking performance. |
| A4 | Norway | Slovenia | 5-0 | Dominant display by Norway. |
| A1 | Sweden | Denmark | 1-2 | Late win for Denmark. |
| A3 | Iceland | England | 1-0 | Surprise result for Iceland. |
| B2 | Switzerland | Türki̇ye | 3-1 | Switzerland remains perfect. |
| B3 | Portugal | Latvia | 3-0 | Portugal continues winning streak. |
| C1 | Lithuania | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2-0 | Lithuania tops the group. |
The fixtures for Matchday 4, played on 18 April 2026, included:
| Group | Home Team | Away Team | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | Austria | Germany | 0-0 | Germany's perfect start is halted. |
| A4 | Slovenia | Norway | 2-3 | Norway secures a close win. |
| A1 | Denmark | Italy | 0-0 | Stalemate between Denmark and Italy. |
| A3 | Spain | Ukraine | 5-0 | Dominant win for Spain. |
| B2 | Türki̇ye | Switzerland | 1-1 | Draw between Türki̇ye and Switzerland. |
| B3 | Portugal | Latvia | 1-2 | Latvia defeats Portugal. |
