Italy Women will kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2027 FIFA World Cup with a challenging match against Sweden Women at the Stadio Oreste Granillo in Calabria on Tuesday. Ranked 13th in the world, the Italian team, known as “Le Azzurre,” is aiming for their fifth appearance at the prestigious tournament and a third consecutive one, having participated in the 2019 and 2023 editions.
The team is looking to put behind the bitter memories of a tough run at the end of 2025, which saw their Euro 2025 campaign coming to an end in the semi-finals with a 2-1 loss to England. Following the Euro disappointment, Italy Women played four friendly matches, drawing the first one against Japan before suffering defeats to Brazil and the USA twice.
On the other hand, Sweden Women have a remarkable record of qualifying for every Women’s World Cup tournament so far. In the last two editions, the Swedish team even secured the bronze medal, finishing third. They are considered one of the most formidable teams in women’s football.
Despite their strong performances in recent World Cups, Sweden Women also faced disappointment at the Euros last year, losing to England Women in the quarter-finals. Their struggles continued in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, where they were defeated by Spain in the semi-finals and by France in the battle for third place.
In terms of head-to-head statistics, Italy Women have won only twice in 13 encounters with Sweden Women, who have emerged victorious on eight occasions. The last time Italy Women defeated Sweden Women was in a 1-0 friendly match in October 2018. Since then, Sweden Women have won three of the five subsequent meetings between the two teams.
Both teams are currently on a poor run of form, with Sweden Women winless in their last five official games and Italy Women without a win in their last five matches, losing four of them. Italy Women have also failed to score in their last three official fixtures.
Predicting the outcome of the upcoming match, Sweden Women are considered the stronger side on paper, and they are expected to come out on top. Despite both teams likely to raise their game for this crucial World Cup qualifier, the Blagult should secure a victory.
Prediction: Italy Women 1-2 Sweden Women
Betting Tips:
1. Result: Sweden Women to win
2. Goals over/under 2.5: Over 2.5 goals
3. Both teams to score: Yes
In conclusion, the clash between Italy Women and Sweden Women promises to be an exciting and competitive encounter as both teams look to make a statement in their World Cup qualifying campaign. The match is set to showcase top-quality women’s football and could potentially have a significant impact on the outcome of the qualification process.
