Haiti and Portugal qualify for FIFA Women’s World Cup for first time ever after thrilling playoff victories 

Haiti and Portugal will take part in the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time ever after the two nations sealed their qualification for the quadrennial football tournament with dramatic wins in the Intercontinental Playoffs in New Zealand on Wednesday 22 February. 

This year’s World Cup, which takes place in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August, has an expanded format of 32 teams (up from 24), with Haiti and Portugal joining the Philippines, Vietnam, Morocco, Zambia and Republic of Ireland as debutants in the tournament. 

The Intercontinental Playoffs (18 to 23 February) are deciding the final three teams in the tournament, with the winners of Groups A, B and C of the playoffs all advancing to the World Cup. 

The first two of those three teams have been decided as both Haiti and Portugal secured narrow 2-1 victories in their matchups with Chile and Cameroon on Wednesday 22 February. The final playoff between Paraguay and Panama takes place on Thursday 23 February at 2am CET. 

• Women's World Cup Intercontinental Playoffs: All results

Dumornay double secures historic qualification for Haiti

Melchie Dumornay was the star of the show in Haiti's match against Chile, scoring twice in a thrilling 2-1 victory in the final of Group A.

The 19-year-old’s first goal saw her barge through the Chile defence on the left side of the penalty area before rifling a rising shot into the top corner of the opposition’s net. It left Chilean goalkeeper Christiane Endler grasping at air as the ball hit the back of the net.

In an end-to-end game, Haiti's Nerilia Mondesir missed an 89th-minute penalty before Chile's Yessenia Lopez smashed a long-range drive onto the crossbar in added time.

But with eight minutes of extra time played, Demornay put her country two goals up with a deft left-footed shot from inside the area for her second goal of the match.

There was still time for Chile to give themselves a lifeline, as Daniela Zamora bundled in from close range in the last minute of the match.

In the end it was too little too late for Chile, but for a jubilant Haiti their presence at the World Cup is now secured for the first time ever. This victory was the nation's first over South American opposition in four attempts in surely the most important game in their history.

For Dumornay, who will join French side Lyon on 1 July, the World Cup will be another chance to demonstrate the talents that have made her one of the most exciting young players in women’s football.

Haiti captain Nerilia Mondesir was ecstatic after the match, summing up the mood of the team when she said: "I feel joy and pride. I’m happy we got this qualification because our country, our people needed it. They were counting on it. We were focused, we were motivated and that’s why I’m happy. We suffered, that’s true, and we knew what Chile were capable of doing. But we trusted our team."

• Melchie Dumornay's goals for life

Portugal survive late scare to advance to the World Cup finals

Portugal will also make their debut at a Women’s World Cup as a 94th-minute penalty secured a 2-1 victory over Cameroon. The European side saw a shot cannon off the post in the third minute of the match as 20-year-old Kika Nazareth met a near-post corner with a powerful header that ricocheted off the woodwork.

Portugal, who ended the match with 20 efforts on goal to Cameroon’s eight, eventually broke the deadlock, with Kika the mastermind behind the goal. Her audacious swinging free-kick rebounded off the post, leaving defender Diana Gomes to tap into an open net from inside the six-yard box.

In the 52nd minute, Andreia Norton hit a dipping long-range effort that rattled the Cameroon crossbar as Portugal sought to capitalise on their dominance with a second goal.

But in the 89th minute, Cameroon struck to level the match at 1-1, with Ajara Ngout finding space on the edge of the box before hitting a low strike into the corner of the Portuguese net in front of a raucous crowd that included Cameroon icon and Olympic gold medallist Samuel Eto’o.

The Cameroon celebrations would, however, be short-lived, as Estelle Johnson handled a goalbound shot in her own area to give Portugal a penalty.

With nothing short of World Cup qualification on the line, Carole Costa stepped up to cooly dispatch the spot kick and send Portugal through to this year’s World Cup.

"It's the happiest day of our lives,” match-winner Costa said after the game. “We just have to celebrate with this huge group, which have qualified for a World Cup. I think of so many generations who fought for this moment. Conceding the goal in the last minutes is not easy, but we were calm and we got the goal from the penalty spot."

What’s lies ahead for Haiti and Portugal at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup?

For Haiti, the prize for their playoff victory is a Group D meeting with European champions England, as well as People’s Republic of China and Denmark. 

England vs Haiti will be the first of the Group D games to take place on 22 July 2023, with Haiti’s final group match against Denmark scheduled for 1 August. 

For their part, Portugal face the prospect of joining four-time winners the USA in Group E, where Netherlands and fellow debutants Vietnam also await them. 

Portugal’s World Cup campaign begins on 23 July against the Dutch, before a second group match against Vietnam on 27 July and a final Group E game against the USA on 1 August.