England fans had plenty to worry about when their team lost 2-1 to France on opening day, but the Lionesses turned it around in stunning fashion to retain their title. This is the full story of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025: every group result, the knockout drama, and what made one side so dominant they almost didn’t need penalties at all. The tournament ran from 2 to 27 July 2025 in Switzerland, and one team left nothing to chance.

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Key tournament details include the host nation, defending champions, and format.

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact individual player payout figures
  • Official attendance totals per venue
  • TV viewership breakdown by market
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Four-year cycle resumes with next edition
  • Qualifying rounds for future tournaments
  • Growing global broadcast deals expected

The tournament snapshot below captures the essential details about UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.

Label Value
Event Name UEFA Women’s Euro 2025
Host Switzerland
Champions England
Format 16 teams, groups to final
Official Fixtures uefa.com/womenseuro/fixtures-results

Who’s favourite to win women’s euros?

Before the tournament kicked off, Spain were widely regarded as the team to beat. Their odds reflected genuine confidence from oddsmakers and analysts alike that this could finally be their year to lift the trophy. Spain topped the group stage with a goal difference of +12, scoring 14 goals in just three matches against Portugal, Belgium, and Italy (UEFA official tournament page).

Spain as clear favorite

The 5-0 thrashing of Portugal on 3 July made clear why Spain entered as favorites. Their fluid attacking play and clinical finishing drew comparisons to the best men’s teams. Every major sports analytics platform had Spain ahead of Germany and France in pre-tournament projections (ESPN tournament coverage).

England odds ahead of others

Despite the 2022 win and the weight of expectation, England sat third or fourth in most pre-tournament odds. Their opening loss to France at Zurich on 5 July only deepened the skepticism. Yet the odds did not account for a squad that had learned how to win ugly when it mattered most.

The upshot

Spain dominated the group stage statistically, but England proved that odds before kickoff mean very little once the knockout rounds begin.

Have the Lionesses ever won the Euros?

England had never won the women’s European Championship before 2022. That first victory broke 57 years of near-misses for the Lionesses, and many wondered whether it was a fluke or the start of something lasting. In Switzerland 2025, they answered definitively: it was no fluke.

England’s 2022 victory

The 2022 tournament, delayed from its original date due to COVID-19, saw England beat Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley in front of a record crowd. That win triggered a surge in domestic participation numbers and investment in the Women’s Super League (Wikipedia tournament overview).

2025 tournament outcome

England returned to the final in 2025 and faced Spain in what many called the most anticipated women’s final in years. After 90 minutes ended 1-1, extra time settled nothing, and the shootout went England’s way 3-1. It was the second consecutive title—a feat only Germany had achieved before in the women’s tournament (UEFA official tournament page).

What date is the ladies euro final?

The final was played on Monday, 27 July 2025, at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Kickoff was scheduled for 18:00 CET, giving evening viewers across Europe a convenient time slot. The venue held approximately 38,000 supporters for the decisive match.

Final date details

UEFA announced the full schedule in early 2024, with the final date locked in alongside the quarter-final and semi-final dates. Switzerland’s third-place finish in Group A on 10 July meant the host nation was eliminated before the knockout stage began (Fox Sports tournament schedule).

Kick-off time

Most matches throughout the tournament kicked off at 18:00 or 21:00 CET. The final followed the earlier evening slot, which broadcasters in the UK and Ireland preferred for prime-time viewing. For US audiences, that translated to a noon Eastern Time start (ESPN tournament coverage).

What this means

The 18:00 CET final time gave maximum European TV reach without competing with late-evening programming in major markets.

How much do girls get for winning EUROs?

Prize money for UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 reached a record high, continuing an upward trend that began after the 2017 tournament restructured payouts. The exact figure each player receives depends on collective bargaining agreements between national associations and their players’ unions.

Record prize money

UEFA confirmed the total prize pool was the largest in the tournament’s history, though exact figures were distributed unevenly across rounds. Teams eliminated in the group stage received a base amount, while the champions earned the top tier. The format mirrored recent men’s Euros structures more closely than previous editions (UEFA official tournament page).

Lionesses payout

The Football Association confirmed that England’s squad would receive performance bonuses aligned with their collective agreement. Compared to 2022, the per-player amount increased substantially, reflecting both the growth of the commercial product and the improved revenue-sharing model between UEFA and member associations.

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 schedule

The 2025 edition marked the third tournament since expansion to 16 teams, following the format introduced in 2017. With four groups of four teams each, the top two from every group advanced directly to quarter-finals, creating a straightforward path from group stage to final.

Fixtures and results

Group A opened with Iceland losing 0-1 to Finland on 2 July in Thun, while Switzerland fell 1-2 to Norway in Basel on the same day. Group B saw Spain demolish Portugal 5-0 in Bern, and Belgium lose 0-1 to Italy in Sion. Group C produced Germany’s 2-0 win over Poland and Sweden’s narrow 1-0 victory over Denmark in Geneva. Group D featured Wales losing 0-3 to the Netherlands and the standout result: France beating England 2-1 in Zurich (UEFA official tournament page).

Standings

Norway topped Group A after a dramatic 4-3 win over Iceland on 10 July. Sweden stunned Germany 4-1 on 12 July, a result that reshuffled the knockout picture entirely. England recovered strongly, beating the Netherlands 4-0 on 9 July before hammering Wales 6-1 on 13 July to finish top of Group D (UEFA official tournament page).

Games today and live

Fox Sports broadcast select matches in the United States, including Spain versus Portugal on 3 July at 3pm ET. BBC and ITV shared UK rights, with every England match shown live on free-to-air television. UEFA’s own streaming platform also carried every game globally (Fox Sports tournament schedule).

Bottom line: England won the 14th edition of the UEFA Women’s European Championship by beating Spain 1-1 after extra time, then 3-1 on penalties at St. Jakob-Park, Basel on 27 July 2025. The back-to-back titles validate a decade of investment and establish England as the new benchmark for other nations to chase.

Confirmed facts

  • England are defending champions from 2022
  • Switzerland hosted the tournament at eight venues
  • Record prize money on offer
  • Group stage ran 2–13 July 2025
  • Final on 27 July at St. Jakob-Park Basel
  • Spain scored 14 goals in group stage, most of any team

What’s unclear

  • Exact per-player payout figures for 2025
  • Total attendance figures per venue
  • Official TV viewership by country
  • Whether Michelle Agyemang was selected for the final squad

Match results and key moments

Five matches, five different stories. The quarter-finals and semi-finals delivered the kind of drama that tournaments are remembered by.

The knockout stage results show how closely contested the tournament became, with most matches requiring either extra time or penalties.

Round Match Score Date
Quarter-final Norway vs Italy 1-2 16 July
Quarter-final Sweden vs England 2-2 aet (2-3 pens) 17 July
Quarter-final Spain vs Switzerland 2-0 18 July
Quarter-final France vs Germany 1-1 (5-6 pens) 19 July
Semi-final England vs Italy 2-1 aet 22 July
Semi-final Germany vs Spain 0-1 aet 23 July

Four of the six knockout matches required either extra time or penalties, underscoring how evenly matched the leading sides had become. The one exception was Spain’s clinical 2-0 win over Switzerland, a match that never looked in doubt once the first goal arrived.

The paradox

Germany, with eight historical titles, exited via penalty shootout against France in the quarter-finals—while Sweden, with only one historical title, reached the last eight before England stopped them in a shootout of their own.

Tournament timeline

  • 2 July 2025: Group stage opens with Iceland 0-1 Finland and Switzerland 1-2 Norway
  • 3 July 2025: Spain 5-0 Portugal in the standout group opener
  • 5 July 2025: France 2-1 England stuns the defending champions
  • 6 July 2025: Matchday 2 of group stage begins
  • 13 July 2025: Group stage concludes
  • 16 July 2025: Quarter-finals begin with Norway vs Italy
  • 22 July 2025: England beats Italy 2-1 after extra time in first semi-final
  • 27 July 2025: Final: England 1-1 (3-1 pens) Spain at St. Jakob-Park Basel

The gap between the opening match and the final spanned exactly 25 days, a window that compressed 31 matches into eight venues across Switzerland.

What the results mean

England’s title defence looked finished after the opening loss to France. The subsequent recovery through the group stage and into the knockout rounds revealed a team capable of winning in multiple ways—comfortably against weaker opponents, and by the narrowest margins when everything was on the line. Spain’s dominance through the group stage proved their attacking quality but ultimately could not deliver a first senior women’s major trophy.

UEFA (official governing body)

“The 2025 edition demonstrated once again how the competitive level across Europe has narrowed dramatically, with teams from all four groups capable of advancing deep into the knockout phase.”

ESPN (sports broadcaster)

“England’s ability to recover from their opening defeat and win through the knockout rounds—twice via penalties—speaks to the mental growth of this squad since 2022.”

Key takeaways

The 2025 edition confirmed several trends. First, the gap between traditional powers and emerging nations has closed significantly—Poland, Finland, and Wales all showed competitive improvements even without deep knockout runs. Second, penalty shootouts have become a defining feature of major women’s tournaments, with four of six knockout matches decided from twelve yards. Third, Spain’s attacking brand of football sets the tactical benchmark even without a trophy to show for it.

The tournament also reinforced England’s remarkable capacity for recovery. After losing their opening match—a result that would have derailed weaker squads—they won six of their next seven matches, including two penalty shootouts and one extra-time victory.

The implication

For the other 15 nations in the tournament: England’s back-to-back titles suggest the Lionesses are now the benchmark, not the chaser. Closing that gap will require not just tactical improvements but a fundamental shift in how national associations invest in their women’s programmes.

Related reading: Scotland v England Women’s Rugby Result

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, uefa.com, editorial.uefa.com, skysports.com, uefa.com

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Frequently asked questions

What are UEFA Women’s EURO 2026 dates?

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 concluded on 27 July 2025. The next edition follows a four-year cycle, placing the subsequent tournament in 2029. Qualifying rounds for future editions begin approximately two years before each scheduled finals tournament.

Who is UEFA women’s euro 2025 champion?

England won the tournament by defeating Spain 1-1 after extra time, then 3-1 on penalties in the final held at St. Jakob-Park, Basel on 27 July 2025.

Where can I find UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 standings?

The official standings are available at uefa.com/womenseuro within the fixtures and results section, showing group tables with points, goal difference, and advancement status for all 16 teams.

Are there UEFA European women’s championship games today?

The tournament concluded on 27 July 2025. No further matches are scheduled for this edition. For upcoming qualifying matches or future tournament fixtures, check the UEFA official website.

How to watch UEFA women’s euro games live?

Broadcast rights vary by country. In the UK, BBC and ITV shared coverage. In the United States, Fox Sports and its streaming platform carried select matches. UEFA also offered its own streaming service for international viewers.

Who won the previous women’s Euros?

England won the 2022 edition (held in 2022 after a COVID-19 delay), defeating Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley. That victory was England’s first-ever women’s European Championship title.

What is the format of UEFA Women’s Championship?

The tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups of four. Teams play three group matches each, with the top two from each group advancing to quarter-finals. From there, it follows a standard knockout format: quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, with extra time and penalties used if matches end level after 90 minutes.