Denmark W vs Sweden W

Denmark controlled the opening exchanges and broke through in the 25th minute. Olivia Holdt drove forward from midfield before feeding Amalie Vangsgaard, who slipped a pass through for Cecilie Fløe to sweep home first-time from inside the box — a composed finish that capped a slick team move.

Sweden improved after the interval and found an equaliser in the 52nd minute. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd met a cross at the far post and directed a header into the net, her second goal of the qualifying campaign.

The game swung decisively back Denmark's way in the 65th minute. Fløe turned provider, delivering a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Pernille Harder, who arrived on the edge of the six-yard box and fired a clinical one-touch finish past Swedish goalkeeper Jennifer Falk.

Denmark saw out the final 25 minutes without serious alarm, with Sweden's best chance — a long-range effort from Filippa Angeldahl — comfortably gathered by Lene Christensen.

The double substitution made by Denmark head coach Andrée Jeglertz just before the winner proved critical. Harder had been withdrawn in the 61st minute for Vangsgaard, but the tactical reshuffle — with Fløe pushed higher — immediately paid dividends. Fløe's assist for Harder's winner came just four minutes after the change, and the Dane who replaced Harder (Vangsgaard) had started the first goal. The quickfire switch kept Sweden's defence off balance.

Cecilie Fløe (Denmark W) — The pick of the players. Scored a composed opener in the 25th minute and turned provider for Harder's winner. Her movement between the lines caused Sweden persistent problems.

Pernille Harder (Denmark W) — Denmark's all-time leading scorer added another to her tally with the 65th-minute winner. Though substituted shortly after, her impact was decisive.

Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Sweden W) — Sweden's brightest attacking threat. Took her goal well with a far-post header and was a constant outlet on the right flank before being substituted in the 83rd minute.

Player of the match: Cecilie Fløe (Denmark W)

The match stats show a game of fine margins. Denmark's shot count (12 to Sweden's 11) and possession (52% to 48%) indicate a contest that could have gone either way, but Denmark's ruthlessness in the final third — two goals from 0.89 xG — was the difference. Sweden created similar quality chances but managed only one goal from 0.74 xG, with Rytting Kaneryd's header their only shot on target from inside the box.

Denmark's 78.6% tackle success rate (per BBC Sport) underlined their defensive solidity, winning the physical battle in midfield where Holdt and Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen set the tempo.

Denmark moved to 11 points from five matches in League A Group 1, leading Italy by three points with one round to play. The Danes would go on to beat Serbia on Matchday 6 to confirm top spot and automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil — their first World Cup appearance since 2023.

Sweden, on seven points after this defeat, finished third in the group on eight points behind Italy (nine). The Blågult entered the European playoffs hoping to extend their record of having never missed a Women's World Cup.

Denmark delivered when it mattered, with Fløe producing the best performance of her international career on the biggest stage of this qualifying cycle. Sweden were competitive but lacked the cutting edge to turn territorial dominance into points — a problem that would ultimately cost them automatic qualification.