Malawi Make History by Qualifying for First World Cup

Malawi have made history by qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.

The Scorchers produced a stunning comeback to beat Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Ghana took the lead early, but Malawi refused to collapse. Temwa Chawinga brought them level before Rose Kadzere scored the winning goal in the second half.

The victory sent Malawi into the WAFCON semi-finals and, more importantly, secured their place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. CAF confirmed that the achievement is the first World Cup qualification in Malawi’s history.

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is where Malawi started.

The Scorchers entered the tournament ranked 153rd in the world, according to the latest FIFA Women's World Ranking. Ghana, by comparison, were ranked 60th.

Malawi were also making their debut at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, yet they have now reached the semi-finals and secured a place at the biggest tournament in women's football.

Their route has included some major tests. After topping their group, they have now eliminated Ghana, one of Africa's established women's football nations.

The victory is therefore much more than a surprise quarter-final result. Malawi have gone from WAFCON debutants and the world's 153rd-ranked team to World Cup qualifiers in the space of one tournament.

And they are not finished yet.

The Scorchers will now play in the WAFCON semi-finals with the chance to go even further.

What a story. 🇲🇼👏