Morocco’s capital, Rabat, has been confirmed as the host city for the preliminary phase of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Play-Off Tournament, where Ghana’s Black Queens will compete for another opportunity to reach the global showpiece for the first time in nearly two decades.

The preliminary phase will run from November 28 to December 5, 2026, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, bringing together six national teams from different confederations to contest nine matches for two places in the final phase of the qualification tournament.

Ghana will face Ecuador, Uzbekistan and Papua New Guinea in the race to advance, with the Black Queens determined to recover from their failure to secure automatic qualification for the tournament in Brazil.

The Black Queens missed out on a direct ticket after losing their quarter-final tie against Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. The upcoming play-offs therefore represent another route for Ghana to keep their World Cup ambitions alive.

Black Queens Face Crucial Test in Morocco

Ghana will open their campaign against Ecuador on the first matchday, with Uzbekistan taking on Papua New Guinea and Chinese Taipei facing South Africa in the other fixtures.

The six participating nations will compete in a nine-match preliminary tournament, with each team scheduled to play three matches. The two best-performing teams overall will advance to the final phase of the play-off competition, scheduled for February 2027.

For Ghana, progression will require consistency across their three fixtures, as there will be little room for error in a competition where only two of the six teams will move forward.

The Black Queens will be seeking a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since their last appearance in 2007. Ghana featured at the 1999 and 2003 editions before making their third consecutive appearance at the 2007 tournament in China.

Since then, the team have been unable to reclaim a place among the world’s leading women’s national sides at the global finals.

Their participation in Morocco offers a fresh opportunity to end that absence, although the Queens must first negotiate a challenging preliminary phase before they can move within reach of qualification.

The Mohammed VI Football Complex will provide the setting for the decisive encounters. The facility is already familiar with international women’s football, which is already hosting matches at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Black Queens’ Coach Bjorkegren Takes Interim Black Stars Job

Ghana’s preparations for the women’s World Cup play-offs will also come against the backdrop of a temporary change in responsibilities for head coach Kim Lars Björkegren.

The Swedish tactician has been handed the Black Stars job on an interim basis and will oversee Ghana’s two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Somalia in November.

The double-header assignment will require Björkegren to switch his attention to the men’s national team shortly before returning to his duties with the Black Queens ahead of their campaign in Morocco.

The timing presents an important challenge for the coach, who must manage the demands of the Black Stars assignment while ensuring that preparations for the women’s qualification tournament remain on course.

With the preliminary phase scheduled to begin on November 28, Ghana will need to maintain adequate preparation and build cohesion within the squad before travelling to Morocco.

The Black Queens’ immediate objective will be to secure one of the two available places in the final phase. Their performances in the three matches will determine whether they remain in contention for a place at the 2027 World Cup.

For Björkegren, the assignment with the Black Stars will provide a separate test of his leadership, but his return to the Queens will carry significant importance as Ghana pursue a long-awaited return to the women’s global finals.

Road to Brazil 2027 Enters Decisive Stage

The play-off tournament forms part of the final qualification process for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027.

The competition will be the first Women’s World Cup hosted by a South American country, marking a historic milestone for the continent. Brazil’s selection also brings the tournament to a country with a strong football tradition and a growing profile in the women’s game.

The 2027 edition will feature 32 national teams, continuing the expanded format introduced at the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

The play-off competition is designed to provide an additional qualification route for teams that have not secured direct places through their respective continental competitions.

For Ghana, the process begins with the six-team preliminary phase in Morocco. Finishing among the top two will earn the Black Queens progression to the final phase in February 2027, where the remaining qualification places will be contested.

Advancing from the preliminary round, however, will not automatically guarantee a place at the World Cup. Ghana must also navigate the final phase and secure the necessary result to claim one of the available tickets to Brazil.

With the November tournament approaching, the Black Queens have a crucial opportunity to revive their World Cup ambitions. Success in Rabat would keep Ghana on course for a return to the biggest stage in women’s football after an absence dating back to 2007.