Road ToThe World Cup
⌕
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027

Scotland beats Czechia 2–0, but Brazil 2027 still requires another play-off round

Caroline Weir and Claire Emslie scored in Pardubice. Scotland takes a two-goal lead into Tuesday’s return leg, with another tie awaiting the winner.

Caroline Weir in Scotland’s kit during a women’s international against Germany in April 2025.
Archive: Caroline Weir playing for Scotland against Germany in the Women’s Nations League on 8 April 2025. Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0. · Steffen Prößdorf / CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and cropped for display.

Scotland beat Czechia 2–0 away in the first leg of their 2027 Women’s World Cup play-off. Caroline Weir scored in the 57th minute and substitute Claire Emslie added a second in the 64th. The result gives Scotland a strong position for the return leg, but it has not secured a place in Brazil.

Two goals changed the tie

Weir finished a move involving Rachel McLauchlan and Kathleen McGovern to break the deadlock in Pardubice. Emslie scored shortly after coming on. Goalkeeper Sandy MacIver then helped preserve the lead as Czechia pressed for a goal.

What happens next?

Scotland hosts Czechia on 13 October. The aggregate winner advances to a second two-legged round against Lithuania or Sweden, scheduled for late November and early December. Under UEFA’s rules, seven of the eight winners in that round qualify directly for Brazil 2027; the other enters an inter-confederation play-off. Scotland therefore still has two rounds to navigate before it can claim a World Cup place.