One year out from 2027 Women's World Cup: Power Ra...

Spain won the 2023 World Cup and are favorites to defend their title. Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty ImagesFootball never stops. With the men's edition of the FIFA World Cup underway, we are now a year away from the greatest spectacle in women's football. The Women's World Cup kicks off on June 24, 2027, in Brazil and, so far, 14 out of the 32 teams have secured their ticket, while the rest are still fighting for their places in qualifying. But which of the qualified teams could win it? What are the key questions with a year to go? And which young players are set to impress? Emily Keogh and Yash Thakur explain. - 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup: Format, who has qualified? With only 14 teams confirmed, it is hard to predict where certain teams will finish, with heavy hitters like England and the United States still fighting for their place in the tournament and plenty of debutants still hoping to make it through. But we've ranked the confirmed 14 contenders on their likelihood of winning the competition right now. Philippines debuted at the 2023 World Cup but finished bottom of a group that also featured Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand. On paper, it was the easiest group of the tournament, but the gap between the newcomers and those with experience was evident. Philippines have made some advances since then, but not enough to match those ahead of them, which leaves them at the bottom of this 14-team list. Coming from a confederation that lacks much competition, New Zealand are veterans on the world stage but with very little to show for it. With a mismatched squad, gaps in international games and a fairly easy qualification process compared to that of UEFA or Concacaf, the team's chances of advancing into the knockout phase of the competition are slim to none. Argentina's chances of relative success at the World Cup are growing, as they have some impressive talent coming through. However, had Brazil not earned an automatic place by virtue of being hosts, Argentina would probably have had to go through the intercontinental playoffs in February. Normally, a European team that earned automatic qualification would at least be within the top 10 of a list like this. However, so much of Denmark's success centers around 33-year-old midfielder Pernille Harder and this has been a serious issue at previous major tournaments. They finished bottom of their group without a point at Euro 2025, which makes their prospects at the World Cup look rather slim. South Korea are more of a contender to reach the round of 16 rather than the latter stages. They did top their Asian qualification group ahead of Australia on goal differential, but a recent 4-1 loss to Japan shows why they should not be highly ranked when it comes to their chances at the World Cup. Colombia had an impressive run to the quarterfinals at the 2023 World Cup, with young forward Linda Caicedo and striker Mayra Ramírez leading the way, and the team will likely have a similar vibe and style of play that has proven so effective. Their physicality is a key bonus and can trouble opponents, but there is still a long way to go for this relatively young team. Though they are a powerhouse of women's football, France consistently fail to turn up at major tournaments and have consistently exited both the Euros and World Cup at the quarterfinal stage since 2011 -- with the exception of Euro 2022 where they reached the semifinals. Though the France squad boasts individual quality, the team has underperformed as occasion has got the better of it time and time again. China have been inconsistent in recent years. They were a dominant force in women's soccer for a long time, but recently, as other teams have advanced, they have been left behind. It would be silly to underestimate them, though. With the compactness and pace that have served them well, they can push most opponents to the limit. Australia suffered a heartbreaking 3-1 exit to England at the semifinals of their home World Cup in 2023, but will lack some of that emotion and the home advantage, which aided that push. Their tenure under former Arsenal and OL Lyonnes boss Joe Montemurro has been a little iffy, with injuries across the pitch. But with a year to reinforce his style, Montemurro should set his sights on the knockouts. Korea DPR's team could spring a few surprises next year. Martin Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images5. Korea DPR Arguably, Korea DPR are the underdog team of the whole tournament -- though this is mainly down to the lack of knowledge about the team and its players due to the country's secrecy. However, the accolades that Korea DPR have picked up at major youth tournaments recently -- they won the 2024 and 2025 U17 World Cups, as well as the U20 World Cup in 2024 -- show that the team is capable of winning big. They have a conveyor belt of impressive young talent coming through and an elite training system that has set them up for success. Korea DPR haven't been at the

One year out from 2027 Women's World Cup: Power Ra...

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