England’s recent 2-1 loss to Spain in the Nations League contrasts with their 1-0 victory over the same opponent in February.
The Women’s Nations League group stage concluded with dramatic final matchday results.
While France and Germany had already secured semi-final berths, two spots remained contested. Spain defeated England 2-1 in Barcelona to claim a semi-final place, while Sweden’s dominant 6-1 win over Denmark secured them top spot in Group 4, ahead of Denmark and Italy.
Scotland and Wales played their final matches, having been relegated to League B. Meanwhile, in League B, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland competed for second place and a promotion play-off spot.
BBC Sport provides a comprehensive review of the campaign, examining England and Wales’ preparations for this summer’s European Championships.
Launched in 2023, the inaugural tournament offered qualification pathways to the 2025 Women’s European Championship. Teams are divided into groups across three leagues, with promotion and relegation based on performance.
The stakes are high; results determine not only the Nations League title but also seeding for the 2027 Women’s World Cup European qualifiers.
Scotland, already relegated, secured a respectable 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in their final game.
Following a 1-0 defeat to Austria, confirming their relegation, Scotland earned their first point of the campaign thanks to Kathleen McGovern’s equalizer against the Netherlands. Their previous match against Austria resulted in a 1-0 loss.
Germany’s commanding victories over the Netherlands (4-0) and Austria (6-0) solidified their group win. France maintained their undefeated streak with 4-0 and 2-0 victories over Switzerland and Iceland respectively.
England’s campaign began with a 1-1 draw in Portugal, followed by a 1-0 home win against Spain. The Portugal draw and the Wembley win against Spain marked contrasting early results.
The Lionesses, European champions, defeated Belgium 5-0 before a surprising 3-2 loss to the same opponent. Following Mary Earps’ unexpected retirement, England defeated Portugal 6-0 before their 2-1 loss to Spain in the semi-final.
Group A4 saw a tight race, with Sweden ultimately securing their semi-final spot via a 6-1 victory over Denmark. Italy finished second, while Wales ended the campaign without a win, relegated to League B following their 1-0 loss to Denmark.
Poland’s 4-0 win over Northern Ireland secured their promotion to League A. Northern Ireland, however, earned a play-off spot with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Republic of Ireland secured a promotion play-off place despite a 1-0 win over Slovenia, losing out on top spot due to head-to-head goal difference. Poland’s promotion was sealed by their victory against Northern Ireland. Emily Murphy’s late goal against Turkey was crucial for the Republic of Ireland.
League placement was determined by 2024 European qualifying rankings. The Nations League finals will consist of two-legged semi-finals (October 22-28), a final and third-place play-off (November 26-December 2). Promotion/relegation play-offs are scheduled for October 2025.
League A’s top finishers remain in the top tier for World Cup qualifiers. League B’s top four are promoted. A play-off will determine the remaining League A spots.
The top four League A teams directly qualify for the World Cup; others compete in play-offs. The group standings will determine seeding for the 2027 Women’s World Cup European qualifiers.
Finals
Semi-finals (two legs): 22-28 October
Final/third-place play-off (two legs): 26 November-2 December
Promotion / relegation play-offs
Two legs in October 2025, exact dates TBC
The draws will be made on 6 June.
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