Women's World Cup qualifying: November update

In the last set of FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying group stage games of 2017, England, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Spain and Finland maintained perfect records but European champions the Netherlands were held by the Republic of Ireland.

• Qualifying schedule: all the matches
• The seven groups
• Matches will be played home and away until 4 September 2018.
• The seven group winners will qualify to join France in the finals from June–July 2019.
• The four runners-up with the best records against the sides first, third and fourth in their groups will advance to the play-offs, consisting of two rounds of two-legged knockout ties in October and November 2018 to decide Europe's last qualifier.

Group 1
Wales remain a point ahead of England, who have a game in hand, after both won twice. England, yet to drop a point, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-0 and Kazakhstan 5-0 while Wales overcame both teams 1-0. England host Wales in Southampton on 6 April, the day after Russia visit Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group 2
Switzerland now have 12 points from four games after defeating Belarus 3-0 and Albania 5-1. Poland are three points adrift after a 4-1 win in Albania while Scotland, not in action have won both their games so far and visit Switzerland on 5 April.

Group 3
European champions the Netherlands slipped up as after winning 5-0 in Slovakia they were held 0-0 at home by the Republic of Ireland, leaving both teams level on seven points, one clear of Norway. Northern Ireland got off the mark with a 3-1 victory in Slovakia. The Dutch face both Irelands in April.

Group 4
Sweden defeated Hungary 5-0 and Denmark won 4-0 in Croatia while Ukraine, who were held by Croatia in September, prevailed 1-0 in Hungary.

Group 5
In the only fixture, Slovenia beat the Faroe Islands 5-0 to get off the mark. Germany remain two points ahead of Iceland (who have a game in hand) and the Czech Republic, who visit the two-time champions on 7 April.

Group 6
Italy secured their fourth perfect win as they won 1-0 away to Portugal, who had defeated Moldova 8-0. Belgium, nine points from three games, were not in action but face both Portugal and Italy in April. Romania secured their first points 3-1 against Moldova.

Group 7
Spain are now on nine points from three games after beating Serbia 2-1 and winning 4-0 against Austria, whose perfect start is now over and are three points behind. Finland made it two wins out of two with a 4-0 victory against Israel, who they visit on 22 January.

The hosts
Having won all four of their friendlies under new coach Corinne Diacre, France's run came to an end as they lost 4-0 in Germany with two goals each from Alex Popp and Svenja Huth. France were then held 0-0 at home by Sweden.