England’s Lionesses have drawn a challenging path for the 2025 Women’s Nations League, facing reigning champions Spain in the group stage.
This matchup marks a high-stakes rematch, following England’s narrow 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. The two sides will compete in League A, Group A3, where they’ll also face Belgium and Portugal.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s women will meet the formidable Germany—runners-up of Euro 2022—in League A’s Group A1, alongside the Netherlands and Austria.
In Group A4, Wales are set to challenge Italy, Denmark, and Sweden. Northern Ireland will play in League B, Group B1, alongside Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania.
Scheduled from February to June, the group matches precede the 2025 UEFA Women’s European Championship, which kicks off in Switzerland on 2 July, where England will aim to defend their title.
Similar to the men’s competition format, the Women’s Nations League features 53 teams divided into three leagues, with the top teams in each League A group advancing to the semi-finals.
This year, semi-finals, as well as the third-place play-off and final, will be held across two legs—a new addition to this year’s format.
In the relegation and promotion battles, the fourth-placed teams in each League A group will move down to League B, while League B group winners will be promoted.
League B will also see fourth-placed teams relegated, along with two of the lowest-ranked third-placed teams. In League C, all six group winners will earn a promotion.
The Nations League will also play a crucial role in qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. aThe top two teams in each League A group will stay in the league for the European qualifiers for the World Cup.
The four third-placed League A teams will contest with the second-placed League B teams to secure a League A spot for World Cup qualifying.
Similarly, the two top third-placed League B teams will play against League C’s highest-ranked second-placed teams, with the winners gaining entry to League B for the qualifiers.
This Nations League promises intense competition as teams not only battle for the title but also aim to secure their place in the World Cup qualification rounds.
