The wait is nearly over for European women’s football (or soccer as we call it) to take center stage in the most anticipated tournament of the summer! Kicking off on July 2nd in Switzerland, this year’s UEFA Women's Euro 2025 brings together 16 of Europe’s top national teams, all battling for glory. With rising stars, debut nations, and reigning champions going head-to-head, the group stage promises to be a month of unforgettable and history-defining moments on the grandest stage. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or newcomer to women’s football, keep reading for a breakdown of everything you need to know going into the group stage, so you’ll be ready for kick off!
The tournament will take place from July 2nd to 27th, with eight Swiss cities hosting the action. Four groups of four teams will be competing against each other, and only the top two from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The excitement will kick off opening day with the long-awaited match line-up featuring Switzerland vs. Norway, Spain vs. Portugal, Denmark vs. Sweden, and the headline match France vs. England.
MATCHDAY 1
Wednesday 2 July
Group A: Iceland vs Finland (18:00CET, Thun)
Group A: Switzerland vs Norway (21:00CET, Basel)
Thursday 3 July
Group B: Belgium vs Italy (18:00CET, Sion)
Group B: Spain vs Portugal (21:00CET, Bern)
Friday 4 July
Group C: Denmark v Sweden (18:00CET, Geneva)
Group C: Germany vs Poland (21:00CET, St.Gallen)
Saturday 5 July
Group D: Wales vs Netherlands (18:00CET, Lucerne)
Group D: France vs England (21:00CET, Zurich)
MATCHDAY 2
Sunday 6 July
Group A: Norway vs Finland (18:00CET, Sion)
Group A: Switzerland vs Iceland (21:00CET, Bern)
Monday 7 July
Group B: Spain vs Belgium (18:00CET, Thun)
Group B: Portugal vs Italy (21:00CET, Geneva)
Tuesday 8 July
Group C: Germany vs Denmark (18:00CET, Basel)
Group C: Poland vs Sweden (21:00CET, Lucerne)
Wednesday 9 July
Group D: England vs Netherlands (18:00CET, Zurich)
Group D: France vs Wales (21:00CET, St.Gallen)
MATCHDAY 3
Thursday 10 July
Group A: Finland vs Switzerland (21:00CET, Geneva)
Group A: Norway vs Iceland (21:00CET, Thun)
Friday 11 July
Group B: Italy vs Spain (21:00CET, Bern)
Group B: Portugal vs Belgium (21:00CET, Sion)
Saturday 12 July
Group C: Sweden vs Germany (21:00CET, Zurich)
Group C: Poland vs Denmark (21:00CET, Lucerne)
Sunday 13 July
Group D: Netherlands vs France (21:00CET, Basel)
Group D: England vs Wales (21:00CET, St.Gallen)
The first group features host nation Switzerland, who’s hoping to follow the trend of host nations going the distance to become the third hosts to win the trophy after the Netherlands and England in previous years. Under the leadership of a legendary coach, Pia Sundhage, Switzerland has an impressive mix of experienced players and rising talent on their squad, including 18-year-old Sydney Schertenleib, who’s already considered a breakout star on the team. They will, however, have a fierce competitor to go up against. Norway has a legacy of European and worldwide titles and features stars on their squad including Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen. Although all eyes seem to be on the outcome of the match between Switzerland and Norway, Iceland and Finland are also frequent qualifiers and shouldn’t be underestimated.
Over in Group B, Spain is already a fan favourite before the match has even kicked off, but for a valid reason! After winning the 2023 World Cup and the UEFA Women’s Nations League, they’re chasing a historic milestone with the Euro tournament. Despite never having won a Women’s Euro, this generation of players led by the legendary Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, who are both on our radars as some of the top players to watch out for this year, have the experience and talent to take their team to victory. Despite having such a promising squad, Spain still has their work cut out for them with Portugal, who went unbeaten in 2024 and even managed a draw against England. Aside from the top contenders, Belgium has also proven themselves to be capable of victory, while Italy is eager to return to the spotlight with a history of being two-time runners-up in the 90s.
Out of all the groups in this year’s tournament, Group C is rumoured to be the toughest. Eight-time Euro champions, Germany, are back fighting for their first major title since 2016 with an experienced squad. With outstanding players, like Klara Bühl and Lea Schüller who are on our radar, they’re looking to redeem themselves after losing to England in the finals in 2022. The competition will be intense with Sweden who’s a consistently strong contender in major tournaments, and Denmark who are 2017 runners-up and have a squad backed by stars like Pernille Harder. Last but not least is Poland, who may not have the same level of success as the other giants in the group, but with Ewa Pajor leading the charge, they still have a chance at victory!
Finally, Group D will finish things off as a headline match with reigning champions, England, facing some serious pressure. Their legendary coach, Sarina Wiegman, made history in 2022 by leading England to their first Euro title, then taking them to the World Cup finals a year later. This year, they’ll face an even greater challenge with a dominating group that includes France, Wales, and the Netherlands. Led by returning captain Leah Williamson, England will have to perform at their very best to stay on top. France is chasing their first major title under a new coach, Laurent Bonadei, while the Netherlands are determined to succeed with a squad of veterans and rising talents, including Vivianne Miedema, Sherda Spitse, and Weike Kaptein. While fans are doubting the capabilities of debuting nation Wales against such strong rivals, they’ve fought for this opportunity and have midfielder Jess Fishlock, who has been with them since 2006, fighting for their place.
This year’s tournament will spotlight the stars we already know and love, while also introducing us to rising stars who are well on their way to becoming household names in women’s football. From legends like Alexia Putellas, to young icons like Sydney Schertenleib, the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament is the ultimate opportunity for these teams and players to showcase their talent. We’ll all be watching to see if Switzerland will make history on home soil, or if England will defend their champion status. No matter what team you’re rooting for, the group stage is the start of what promises to be an unforgettable summer with the best of European football!
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