Italy Women's Football: The Azzurre's Fight for Brazil 2027 Begins Against Denmark

The Italy Women's National Football Team has secured its first point of the 2027 World Cup qualification campaign after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Denmark on March 7 in Vicenza. The result keeps Italy's hopes alive in a fiercely competitive Group A1 that also includes Sweden and Serbia, though the Azzurre now face an uphill battle to secure one of the coveted direct qualification spots.

Why This Matters:

• Qualification stakes: Italy must finish first in the four-team group to qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, or secure a top-two finish to enter playoff rounds. The 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil will feature 32 teams, with Europe allocated 11 qualification spots—a significant expansion from previous tournaments.

• Next fixtures: Italy faces Serbia away on April 14 and Denmark in Copenhagen on April 18, with both matches critical to their World Cup ambitions.

• Current standings: Denmark and Sweden lead with 4 points each, while Italy and Serbia sit at the bottom with 1 point after two matches.

• Tactical shift: Coach Andrea Soncin switched from a 3-5-2 to a 4-2-3-1 formation, introducing five new players including Roma midfielders Giugliano, Dragoni, and Greggi.

How Qualification Works

For Italian residents following the campaign: The four group winners qualify directly for Brazil 2027. The remaining seven European spots will be contested through a two-stage playoff system scheduled between October and December 2026. Second- and third-place finishers from League A groups enter the first playoff round, facing group winners and the top two runners-up from League C. The seven best winners from the second playoff round advance directly to the World Cup, while the eighth enters intercontinental playoffs.

Roma Players Drive Italy's Offensive Push

Andrea Soncin made wholesale changes after Italy's disappointing 1-0 loss to Sweden in Reggio Calabria on March 3. The coach overhauled his lineup, bringing in five new starters and abandoning the defensive three-back system in favor of a more creative midfield setup. The gamble paid dividends in the first half, as the AS Roma contingent seized control of the match at Stadio Romeo Menti.

Manuela Giugliano, who currently ranks among Serie A Femminile's top performers with 9 goals and 9 assists this season, orchestrated much of Italy's buildup play. It was her corner kick that unlocked Denmark's defense: Martina Piemonte peeled away from her marker at the near post and headed home to give Italy a 1-0 lead in the first half. The Lazio striker, who has netted 10 goals in the 2024-2025 Serie A Femminile season and established herself as one of Italy's most prolific forwards, proved her value at international level.

The creative partnership between Giugliano, Giada Greggi, and Giulia Dragoni—all three Roma players currently on loan or contracted to the Giallorosse—generated Italy's most dangerous moments. Dragoni, a 20-year-old on loan from Barcelona, continues to demonstrate why she's considered one of Europe's brightest midfield prospects despite recovering from a serious ankle injury that sidelined her during Euro 2025.

Denmark Fights Back After Penalty Drama

The second half belonged to Denmark. Just three minutes after the restart, Italy defender Elena Linari brought down Danish forward Pernille Harder inside the penalty area. Captain Harder stepped up to take the spot kick, but her effort struck the post and rolled agonizingly along the goal line before spinning out to safety. Goalkeeper Laura Giuliani could only watch as the ball ricocheted away—a stroke of fortune that briefly extended Italy's lead.

The reprieve lasted only 15 minutes. Denmark's Emma Holdt capitalized on a chaotic sequence in Italy's penalty area at the 63rd minute, benefiting from a series of blocked clearances and deflections before stabbing home the equalizer. Italy's defensive discipline, which had held firm in the opening period, crumbled under Denmark's sustained pressure.

Giuliani rescued Italy once more in the 76th minute, producing a crucial save to deny Kathrine Kuhl's header. The final opportunity fell to Italy's Elena Salvai in stoppage time, but her weak shot posed no threat to Danish goalkeeper Thisgaard.

What This Means for Italy's World Cup Path

Italy now sits in third place in Group A1 with 1 point from two matches, level with Serbia but trailing both Sweden and Denmark, who have 4 points each. The math is straightforward but demanding: the team likely needs at least four points from the April double-header to remain in genuine contention for the group title.

A loss to Serbia in Belgrade on April 14 would severely damage those hopes, while the return match against Denmark in Copenhagen four days later represents another must-not-lose scenario. With only one direct qualification spot available from the four-team group, Italy has virtually no room for error as the campaign enters its critical phase.

Soncin Defends Performance Despite Pressure

Coach Andrea Soncin struck a defiant tone after the match, pushing back against criticism that has intensified following the opening defeat to Sweden. "We're always looking at what's missing instead of what's there," Soncin said. "There's satisfaction and pride. The girls gave everything against high-level opponents. I'm happy with the spirit, and for large stretches, with what we managed to put on the field from a technical standpoint as well."

The Italy coach acknowledged his team struggled after halftime but insisted the squad recovered its composure late in the match. "In the second half we had a moment of difficulty, then in the final stages we managed to raise our defensive line again," he explained. "Italy wants to go to the World Cup, wants to play out all the chances it has. The team is alive and totally committed to this dream."

Whether that dream remains realistic depends largely on the upcoming April fixtures. Italy has never missed a Women's World Cup since the tournament expanded in 1999, but the current qualification format—with just four teams per group and a single direct qualification spot—leaves little margin for error. The Azzurre will need to rediscover the defensive solidity that characterized their first-half performance in Vicenza while maintaining the attacking verve provided by their Roma-based midfielders.

Looking Ahead to April's Crucial Window

The April 14 match in Serbia represents Italy's best opportunity to claim three points, as Serbia also sits at the bottom of the group with a single point. A victory would lift Italy to 4 points and potentially set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Denmark four days later. Conversely, a draw or loss in Belgrade would leave Italy facing the realistic prospect of battling through the playoff system—a precarious path that involves facing unknown opponents and the ever-present risk of elimination.

The shift to a more attacking 4-2-3-1 system appears to suit Italy's personnel better than the conservative approach used against Sweden. Piemonte's movement as a lone striker creates space for the creative midfielders behind her, while Giugliano's set-piece delivery adds a reliable scoring threat. However, the defensive fragility exposed by Denmark's second-half surge remains a concern, particularly with tougher tests looming.

For Italian football fans hoping to see the Azzurre compete in Brazil in 2027, the next month will be decisive. The team has the talent—Giugliano's Ballon d'Or nomination in 2024 and Dragoni's prodigious potential prove that—but translating individual quality into collective results has proven elusive in Group A1's unforgiving environment.