Poland v Belgium tonight at 18:00 in Gdańsk: a 0–1 deficit to overturn, extra time if the tie is level

At 18:00 on Tuesday, at Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk, Poland's women play a match that will decide whether they are still in the race for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. After a 1–0 defeat in the first leg in Leuven, Nina Patalon's team have to make up the deficit against Belgium in the return game.

A goal on the stroke of half-time in Leuven

The first match, played on 9 October, was settled in first-half stoppage time, when Dhont scored for Belgium in the 45+3rd minute. Earlier, before the half-hour mark, Kinga Seweryn had saved a penalty from Wullaert. The Polish goalkeeper had a very busy evening: according to Flashscore she made 10 saves. Without her, the deficit after the first leg could have been much bigger. After the break, before the hour mark, Ewa Pajor had the chance to equalise from the spot, but she also failed to convert her penalty.

How many goals Poland need

The arithmetic before the second leg is simple. A win by two goals or more puts Poland through after 90 minutes. A one-goal win leaves the tie level, and then, as Ewa Pajor pointed out, there will be extra time and, if that does not settle it, penalties. A draw or a defeat on Tuesday sends Belgium through.

"I hope we win by two goals and it doesn't come to penalties," said coach Nina Patalon, as quoted by Sportowy24. Just in case, she is ready for that scenario too: "I have already picked four players who will definitely take penalties," she added.

Selection problems

Patalon cannot call on Kinga Szemik or Cyraniak, who will both be missing in Gdańsk. Wiankowska, who limped off in Leuven, is a doubt. The starting line-ups are not yet known. Ewa Pajor is looking ahead, though: "The second match is a new story and a new chance," she told Eurosport.

The road to Brazil

Beating Belgium will not yet secure a ticket to the World Cup. The winners of the tie play Ireland or Kazakhstan in the next round of the play-offs. There is one more catch: the weakest of the eight European teams that win their play-offs will have to go through an intercontinental play-off in February 2027. The Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil in 2027. For now, though, all that matters is Tuesday evening in Gdańsk.

Tickets and TV

Tickets for Tuesday's match cost PLN 30 (category I) and PLN 20 (category II). Poland's previous match in Gdańsk, against France in June 2026, drew 11,713 fans. The game is on TVP Sport, with the pre-match studio from 17:25, and it can also be watched free online at sport.tvp.pl. The commentators are Zawacki and Tokarska. Interest is high: the first leg drew more than 300,000 viewers on TVP.