Friday 20 April 2018, 00:09

Brazil win ticket to France with room to spare

  • Brazil qualify for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France

  • Qualification ensures Brazil set for eighth successive Women’s World Cup

  • Argentina, Chile and Colombia still in the hunt for second automatic berth

Brazil booked passage to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ on Thursday with a match to spare in South American qualifying.

With two tickets up for grabs, Brazil sit top of the standings on six points ahead of Argentina on three, with Chile and Colombia on a point apiece.

Second-half goals from Cristiane, Thaisa and Debinha saw Brazil earn a 3-0 win over Argentina in the early match.

However, the South American champions had to wait until the outcome of the second match where a scoreless stalemate between Chile and Colombia ensured Brazil maintained their record of featuring in every edition of the Women’s World Cup.

The winner of Sunday’s final-round match between Chile and Argentina will earn the second automatic ticket, unless Colombia upset Brazil.

A play-off against a CONCACAF opponent awaits the third-placed team.

The Copa America Femenina doubles as qualifying for the 2020 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Tokyo. Only the top team qualifies automatically, with the second-placed nation to play-off against an African opponent.