by England face a difficult task in securing an automatic qualification place for next year’s European Women’s Championship after being drawn in the toughest qualifying group.
Group A3 contains three of the world’s five best-ranked sides – France (third), England (fourth) and Sweden (fifth), along with the Republic of Ireland (24th) – but only automatic qualification is guaranteed for the two highest sides. for next summer’s finals in Switzerland.
England’s chances of qualifying for Euro 2025 – and defending the title – remain relatively strong overall, however, as the new format means that the third- and fourth-placed teams in their group will take part in the play-offs as the route backup to. reach the finals.
The qualification process is linked to the Women’s Nations League, which started in 2023. England are in League A and are therefore guaranteed to face strong teams in qualifying, although teams in Leagues B and C cannot qualify for the Euros automatically and there is only hope. for playgrounds at its best.
Who are England’s group opponents?
France
Excellence has often been expected but so far they have been perennial underachievers at a major tournament.
Managed by Herve Renard, who oversaw Saudi Arabia’s shock victory over Argentina at the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar, they reached the quarter-finals of last year’s Women’s World Cup but lost on penalties to co-hosts of Australia. France were also runners-up in the Women’s Nations Championship last month.
They have a star-studded squad from Paris St-Germain and a record number of Women’s Champions League winners Lyon, and have a historically strong head-to-head record against England.
Key player Kadidiatou Diani (forward, Lyon)
Sweden
Regular in the final stages of major women’s tournaments and silver medalists at the last two Olympic Games, Sweden is a huge presence in global women’s football and finished third at the 2023 World Cup.
They were comprehensively beaten by England at Bramall Lane in the semi-final of Euro 2022 but they are still a formidable team.
The Swedes surprisingly didn’t finish third in their Nations League group last autumn, mainly because of a costly away defeat to Switzerland – which is why they were in Pot Three for the draw.
Key player Stina Blackstenius (winner, Arsenal)
Irish public
The Irish are entering a new era under head coach Eileen Gleeson. She replaces Vera Pauw, whose four-year reign came to an end after last summer’s World Cup when the Republic of Ireland crashed out in the group stages.
In his six Nations League games in charge, Gleeson led an impressive six wins out of six in League B to secure promotion to League A for this latest cycle. They beat Albania, Hungary and Northern Ireland twice each as a result. However, they will go into this Serie A campaign as underdogs against three of the world’s top five-score teams.
Key player Katie McCabe (back/wing, Arsenal)
When will the qualifiers be played?
England will face France, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland at home and away, across three international windows over the next four and a half months.
In the autumn of 2024, the teams that finish outside the top two windows and do not automatically qualify accordingly, will compete in the play-offs over two rounds of two-legged ties over two windows.
Important dates
1-10 April
Window for two Euro 2025 qualifiers
27 May – 5 June
Window for two Euro 2025 qualifiers
July 8-16
Window for two Euro 2025 qualifiers
21-29 October
Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs (if necessary) or friendlies
25 November-3 December
Final round of Euro 2025 qualifiers (if necessary) or friendlies
16 December
Draw for Euro 2025
Full qualifying draw
Series A
Group A1: Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Finland
Group A2: Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic
Group A3: France, England, Sweden, Republic of Ireland
Group A4: Germany, Austria, Iceland, Poland
Series B
Group B1: Switzerland, Hungary, Turkey, Azerbaijan
Group B2: Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Israel
Group B3: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Malta
Group B4: Wales, Croatia, Ukraine, Kosovo
Series C
Group C1: Belarus, Lithuania, Cyprus, Georgia
Group C2: Slovenia, Latvia, North Macedonia, Moldova
Group C3: Greece, Montenegro, Andorra, Faroe Islands
Group C4: Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Armenia
Group C5: Albania, Estonia, Luxembourg
When will Euro 2025 take place?
The 16-team competition will take place from July 2-27, 2025.
Where is the 2025 tournament being hosted?
Switzerland is the host country after seeing off competition from Poland, France and Denmark/Finland/Norway/Sweden.
Who are the defending champions?
England are the defending champions after taking the trophy home in 2022.
