Elena Dhont scored in added time at the end of the first half on Friday, 9 October 2026, in Leuven, and Belgium have a one-goal lead before the return on Tuesday, 13 October.
Poland must win by two goals on Tuesday to go through in 90 minutes. A one-goal win would send the tie to extra time, and Patalon said she hopes it does not reach penalties.
The winner of the tie faces the winner of Ireland against Kazakhstan. Germany, Spain, France and Denmark have already qualified from Europe.
Kinga Seweryn, who replaced the injured Kinga Szemik, made saves that kept the first-leg margin at one goal. Pajor and Wullaert both missed penalties.
Poland lost 1-0 to Belgium in the first leg of the World Cup 2027 qualifying playoff in Leuven on Friday, 9 October 2026. Elena Dhont scored in added time at the end of the first half, giving the hosts the advantage going into the return fixture. Belgium had 11 accurate shots to Poland's six, and goalkeeper Kinga Seweryn, who came in for the injured Kinga Szemik, made saves that kept the margin at a single goal. Ewa Pajor and Tessa Wullaert both missed penalties, and Pajor said she had analysed her own spot-kick. About 300,000 viewers watched the first leg on television.
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The return leg takes place at Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk on Tuesday, 13 October, with kick-off at 18:00. A two-goal win puts Poland through in 90 minutes, while a one-goal win sends the tie to extra time and, if still level, to a penalty shoot-out. Nina Patalon has named four players she expects to take penalties if needed, and said she hopes the match will not go that far. The winner advances to the next round, where it meets the winner of the Ireland against Kazakhstan contest, and a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil is the prize. Germany, Spain, France and Denmark have already qualified from Europe, while the remaining teams are in the playoffs.
“We are capable of playing two matches at a similar level.”
Patalon said the squad is physically well prepared and that mental factors and recovery over the last three days will weigh heavily on Tuesday.
Ewa Pajor, the most decorated Polish female footballer, spent most of her career at Wolfsburg before joining Barcelona in 2024. She won the Champions League for the first time in the final in Oslo, where she scored twice as Barcelona beat Olympique Lyon 4-0. Her senior debut came on 20 August 2013, a 4-1 friendly win over Czechia under coach Roman Jaszczak. The squad practises penalties after every training session, and Pajor has said she is ready to take another one. Martyna Wiankowska, who left the pitch in pain after a challenge in the first leg, is doubtful for the return.
“The second match is a new story and a new chance. We have 90 minutes to turn the tie around, and we intend to play our best football and win.”
Patalon also praised the use of VAR in the playoffs, where the system is in use, and compared it with the Nations League. She argued that the squad would have had two more penalties in the first leg if VAR had been used in Nations League Division A.
“VAR is a blessing. If it were in Division A of the Nations League, we would have two penalties more.”
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The women's national team trails 1-0 after the first leg in Leuven and plays the return on Tuesday, 13 October, at 18:00 at Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk. The winner of the tie plays on for a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
AI text based on reports by sport.interia.pl, sportowefakty.wp.pl, TVN24.pl and other publishers. Published . How it is made