Temwa Chawinga is relishing the prospect of representing Malawi at their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup after playing a leading role in the Scorchers’ historic qualification for next year’s tournament in Brazil.
Malawi stunned the continent on their WAFCON debut, defeating Nigeria, Ghana and Algeria on their way to the final, a run that secured their place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
For Chawinga, the achievement represents the fulfilment of a childhood ambition and the reward for a career that has taken her from northern Malawi to some of the biggest stages in women’s football. “When you’re playing football, you dream of going to the big stage and that means the World Cup, I can’t wait,” Chawinga said, underlining the significance of Malawi’s breakthrough.
The 28-year-old Kansas City Current forward was central to the Scorchers’ remarkable campaign, finishing the WAFCON as the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals and two assists as Malawi exceeded expectations throughout the competition.
Chawinga’s journey to the global stage
Malawi’s qualification is particularly significant for Chawinga because her own journey almost ended before it had properly begun.
She moved from her hometown of Rumphi to Sweden as an 18-year-old in 2017, hoping to build a career in Europe. However, the sudden departure of her sister Tabitha Chawinga for China left Temwa alone in an unfamiliar country.
The striker admitted she considered returning home because she struggled with homesickness and loneliness, but her sister persuaded her to remain in Sweden.
The team also brought in players from Malawi and elsewhere in Africa to help her settle. “Don’t miss home, just focus on your career,” was the advice Tabitha gave her, which Chawinga credits with helping her remain in football.
The decision proved pivotal. She scored 55 goals in 57 matches in Sweden before continuing her prolific form in China and eventually earning a move to the National Women’s Soccer League with Kansas City Current.
She became the first Malawian to play in the NWSL and subsequently finished as the league’s leading scorer and Most Valuable Player in both 2024 and 2025.
WAFCON run changed Malawi’s belief
Chawinga’s international breakthrough came during a WAFCON campaign in which Malawi immediately showed they were not in Morocco simply to make up the numbers.
Their biggest statement came against Nigeria, the continent’s most successful women’s national team, as Malawi secured a 3-2 victory with Temwa scoring twice and Tabitha adding the other goal.
“I was scared” before facing Nigeria, Chawinga revealed, acknowledging the weight of facing a side that had won the WAFCON ten times while Malawi had never previously featured at the tournament.
That victory transformed the team’s outlook. Chawinga said beating Nigeria convinced her that Malawi could compete with any opponent, and the Scorchers subsequently eliminated Egypt, Ghana and Algeria to reach the final.
She scored against Egypt in the round that followed, found the net again in the quarter-final victory over Ghana and struck in the semi-final win against Algeria.
The run earned Malawi automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, turning an unprecedented WAFCON campaign into an even bigger breakthrough for the country. “We went there to compete, not just to participate,” the striker revealed.
Brazil awaits a history-making Malawi
The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be staged in Brazil, marking the first time the tournament will be hosted in South America. The competition is scheduled to feature 48 teams, making it the largest edition in the history of the women’s tournament.
The draw is scheduled for 11 December in Rio de Janeiro, with Malawi preparing to discover their opponents as they embark on their first appearance at the global finals.
Chawinga is already thinking beyond qualification and wants Malawi to approach the tournament with ambition rather than simply celebrating their presence.
The forward also knows Malawi could be drawn against some of the world’s strongest teams, including the United States and France, but remains confident in the Scorchers’ ability to compete.
“We have a lot of talent in Malawi. We’ll be prepared for anything and we are going to Brazil to compete just like we did at the WAFCON.”
Temwa Chawinga, Malawi and Kansas City Current forward
For a player who once contemplated abandoning her football career because she could not cope with being away from home, the journey to Brazil represents a remarkable transformation.
Now, with Malawi preparing to step onto football’s biggest women’s stage for the first time, Chawinga will be one of the players expected to lead the Scorchers into a new chapter in their history.
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