Europe's top soccer teams have started down their 2027 World Cup paths, with UEFA revealing the field of 2026 European Qualifiers in a Tuesday morning league-stage draw.
Reigning world champion and world No. 1 Spain headlines the results, with La Roja set to face 2023 World Cup runners-up — and newly minted back-to-back Euro champs — No. 4 England in Group A3, while Group A1 pits perennial titans No. 3 Sweden against rising stars No. 12 Italy.
Group A2 will see No. 6 France taking on the No. 11 Netherlands, with No. 5 Germany and No. 13 Norway headlining Group A4.
A total of 11 UEFA teams will clinch spots in the 2027 World Cup via the European Qualifiers, which kick off in March 2026, though one additional UEFA nation will earn the opportunity to try and punch a ticket to the Brazil-hosted tournament via an inter-continental playoff in February 2027.
Based on the 2025 Nations League results, UEFA teams fell into three leagues entering the 2026 qualifiers, with League A and B housing 16 squads each while League C holds 21.
The winners of League A's four groups will directly qualify for the World Cup, while the remaining League A teams along with top finishers from League B and C will move on to a series of playoffs to ultimately determine the seven other direct UEFA qualifiers, plus the inter-confederation play-off contender.
The 2026 UEFA World Cup Qualifiers League A Groups
- Group A1: No. 3 Sweden, No. 12 Italy, No. 14 Denmark, No. 35 Serbia
- Group A2: No. 6 France, No. 11 Netherlands, No. 26 Poland, No. 27 Republic of Ireland
- Group A3: No. 1 Spain, No. 4 England, No. 17 Iceland, No. 34 Ukraine
- Group A4: No. 5 Germany, No. 13 Norway, No. 19 Austria, No. 38 Slovenia
The USWNT closed out the October international window in style, dominating New Zealand 6-0 to cap their slate of three friendlies with an emphatic win on Wednesday.
Forward Emma Sears tallied the team's first hat trick since 2022 in the victory, backed up by a brace from Catarina Macario and a long-range strike from Rose Lavelle.
"It's just about making the most of my opportunities, encouraging my teammates here the best I can, and just coming into games where I might be needed," Sears said postgame. "Whether that's coming off the bench, or starting like I was tonight."
Though the USWNT is the No. 2 team in the world, manager Emma Hayes pitted an inexperienced group against the 33rd-ranked New Zealand squad, starting three teenagers in back-to-back friendlies for the first time since 2000 — with the entire US starting defense sharing just 11 international caps between them.
Wednesday's starting XI averaged 17.3 caps per player, narrowly beating out April's Brazil-facing team for the least-capped USWNT lineup in 25 years.
That average, however, shrinks to just 7.7 caps per player without Lavelle, as the veteran midfielder and captain dramatically boosts the stat with her 114 total appearances.
"We're developing real competition in our squad," Hayes said afterwards. "Internally, the important thing for us is that we get to be ourselves, and we get to play the way we want to play."
What started with a whimper ended with a bang, as the USWNT's youth movement continues to force tough roster calls with a pair of friendlies against 2025 Euro semifinalists No. 12 Italy — not to mention next year's World Cup qualifiers — fast approaching.
The USWNT announced their 2025 season finale on Monday, setting a pair of friendlies against Italy at Orlando's Inter & Co Stadium on November 28th and Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on December 1st.
Facing the now-world No. 2 US for the first time in 15 years, Italy's recent run to the 2025 Euro semifinals shot them to No. 12 in the FIFA rankings.
"As we prepare for World Cup qualifying at the end of 2026, we want to play teams from all parts of the world with different styles and different strengths, so getting to play Italy, one of Europe's up-and-coming teams, will be a great way to end the year," said USWNT head coach Emma Hayes in a statement announcing the friendlies.
After an extended break following a series of early July matchups, the US now has five matches left on the books, with the year-ending Italy matches rounding out three already-announced October friendlies.
The USWNT kicks off next month's lineup with two matches against Euro 2025 participant No. 23 Portugal, followed by a third friendly against No. 33 New Zealand.
As Hayes's year of roster evaluation comes to a close, expect stakes to rise as the 2027 World Cup comes into sharper view.
How to purchase tickets to the final 2025 USWNT friendlies
Though a myriad of presale opportunities are available throughout this week, tickets to both the November 28th match in Orlando and the December 1st friendly in Fort Lauderdale will go on sale to the general public on Friday.
Tickets will drop at 10 AM ET online.
The defending Euro champs have done it again, as No. 5 England advanced to the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Final with a 2-1 extra-time semifinals victory over No. 13 Italy — pulling off yet another knockout-stage comeback win.
"We're going to make a movie someday," manager Sarina Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 after the Lionesses' unlikely turnaround. "Well, this is a movie. My goodness, it's unbelievable."
The Italian underdogs had the upset dialed in for most of the match, as veteran midfielder Barbara Bonansea put the Azzurre ahead 1-0 in the 33rd minute while the team locked into a sturdy defense that carried them through the end of regulation time.
However, 19-year-old England Euro super-sub Michelle Agyemang played hero in final minutes of stoppage time, scoring her second late equalizer in as many games to force the match into extra time.
As extra time drew to a close, England were awarded a controversially soft penalty, and though Italian goalkeeper Laura Giuliani originally denied the shot, second-half sub Chloe Kelly buried the rebound to give the Lionesses their 2-1 game-winning scoreline.
"Four years ago, I was just a kid throwing balls to some of these girls, now I'm playing with them," said senior team newcomer and breakout star Agyemang, who served as a ball girl during the 2022 Euro Final at London's Wembley Stadium.
How to watch the second match of the 2025 Euro semifinals
Eight-time European title-winners No. 3 Germany will close out the 2025 semifinals against 2023 World Cup champions No. 2 Spain at 3 PM ET on Wednesday.
The clash will air live on FOX.
The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 semifinals kick off on Tuesday afternoon, as the four remaining nations — England, Italy, Germany, and Spain — battle it out for one of two tickets to Sunday's tournament final.
Notably, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final is still on the table, with both England and Spain advancing on opposite ends of the bracket.
Three of the four semifinal squads showcase a wealth of international experience and history, while surprise underdog Italy is surging in an attempt to shock the world.
- No. 5 England vs. No. 13 Italy, Tuesday at 3 PM ET (FOX): While Italy eyes their first major tournament final appearance since 1993, the 2022 Euro champion Lionesses will look to bounce back from their tightly contested quarterfinal clash.
- No. 3 Germany vs. No. 2 Spain, Wednesday at 3 PM ET (FOX): Expect the reigning World Cup champions to have an edge over a tested German side, but don't discount Germany's mental resolve after their own dramatic quarterfinal win.
A significant factor in the 2025 Euro semifinals will be athlete availability, as multiple teams continue to rotate their lineups deep into the tournament.
England will hope for captain Leah Williamson's return after the center back exited their quarterfinal with an ankle injury, while Germany and Spain navigate absences due to mounting yellow- and red-card violations.
The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 locked in the semifinals over the weekend, with world No. 2 Spain, No. 3 Germany, No. 5 England, and No. 13 Italy all advancing past fierce quarterfinals to secure a spot in the tournament's final four.
The only quarterfinal decided by more than one goal was Spain's 2-0 Friday victory over No. 23 Switzerland, while Italy's 2-1 thriller against No. 16 Norway narrowly avoided extra time last week.
Both England's Thursday battle with No. 6 Sweden and Germany's Saturday clash with No. 10 France needed seven rounds of penalties to determine a winner, with the prevailing nations mounting steep comebacks to punch their semifinal tickets.
"I really had a sense throughout the game, even when we were down, that it wasn't our time to go," England defender Esme Morgan said of her team's poise after falling behind 2-0 early in the match.
Penalty kicks have remained a hot topic throughout this year's tournament, with players converting just 24 of 41 attempts across the competition so far — a well below-average rate of 58.5%.
With a combined nine missed penalties on Thursday, England and Sweden's 36% conversion marked the worst rate in Women's Euro history.
Also making unflattering tournament history this weekend was Germany, who became the first Women's Euro team on record to register a comeback win after seeing a player sent off, following defender Kathrin Hendrich's 13th-minute straight red card offense.
How to watch the 2025 Euro semifinals
The 2025 Euro semifinals begin with England facing Italy on Tuesday before Germany takes on Spain on Wednesday.
Both matches kick off at 3 PM ET on their respective days, with live coverage on Fox.
World No. 13 Italy advanced to the 2025 Euro semifinals on Wednesday, defeating No. 16 Norway 2-1 in dramatic fashion to make it past the tournament's quarterfinals for the first time since 1997.
Captain Cristiana Girelli played hero, scoring both of Italy's goals — including a 90th-minute game-winner to successfully avoid extra time.
"I felt something different, something special," Girelli said following the match. "I have seen in the eyes of my teammates a special light."
Norway, however, faced a disappointing tournament exit, after captain Ada Hegerberg missed a penalty before scoring the team's lone goal in the second half.
Next on the 2025 Euro quarterfinals pitch are No. 6 Sweden and No. 5 England, as the European heavyweights face off in one of the round's most-anticipated matchups.
Sweden topped Group C with three emphatic wins, setting them up to take on the runners-up of the competition's notorious "Group of Death" — the reigning Euro champion Lionesses.
England enters the matchup on a two-game winning streak, picking up points against the No. 11 Netherlands and No. 30 Wales after falling to No. 10 France to open group play.
"They're relentless when it comes to tournament football," England captain Leah Williamson said of the Tokyo Olympic silver medalists. "They're just a very organized team."
How to watch Sweden vs. England in the 2025 Euro quarterfinals
The 2025 quarterfinals continue with Sweden taking on England at 3 PM ET on Thursday, live on FOX.
The 2025 Euro quarterfinals kick off on Wednesday, with the eight remaining contenders sitting just three wins away from becoming champions of Europe.
While every win-or-go-home game promises excitement, a few of this week's matchups hold extra intrigue:
- No. 16 Norway vs. No. 13 Italy, Wednesday at 3 PM ET (FOX): After winning Group A last week, a wobbly yet talented Norway side will kick off the 2025 Euro quarterfinals against second-place Group B team Italy — a squad with a proven ability to hit a counterpunch should they go down early.
- No. 6 Sweden vs. No. 5 England, Thursday at 3 PM ET (FOX): Sweden looked utterly dominant in their 4-1 dismantling of Germany to win Group C on Saturday, and their reward is a date with the reigning champions, who bounced back from an early loss to France.
- No. 2 Spain vs. No. 23 Switzerland, Friday at 3 PM ET (FOX): The 2023 World Cup champs have looked like the favorites to win it all by cruising through Group B, while a stoppage-time goal last Thursday sent the tournament hosts to their first-ever Euro quarterfinal.
- No. 10 France vs. No. 3 Germany, Saturday at 3 PM ET (FOX): France emerged unscathed from the notorious "Group of Death," earning the Group D winners an advantage of momentum over a German side reeling from their 4-1 group-stage loss to Sweden.
Last weekend solidified the 2025 Euro quarterfinals, as eight of the region's top teams escaped a competitive group stage to sit just three wins away from becoming European Champions.
World No. 16 Norway emerged as the Group A winner with three straight wins, with host No. 23 Switzerland joining them by advancing from the Euro group stage for the first time in history.
The Swiss booked their quarterfinal spot thanks to a last-gasp goal by midfielder Riola Xhemaili in Thursday's 1-1 draw with No. 26 Finland, giving them a narrow goal differential to advance in Group A's second place.
Speaking of goal differential, No. 2 Spain cruised through by outscoring their opponents 14 to three in their trio of Group B wins.
Despite falling 3-1 to La Roja on Friday, No. 13 Italy secured their position in the 2025 Euro quarterfinals with four groups points — just ahead of No. 20 Belgium's three points.
Though Group C's frontrunners advanced before taking the pitch for their final first-round match, No. 6 Sweden handed second-place No. 3 Germany their largest defeat in tournament history on Saturday, dominating the Germans 4-1 and raising the stakes entering this week's knockouts.
Elsewhere, a dramatic opening round saw the Group D leaders more than survive the "Group of Death," as both stage-winners No. 10 France and No. 5 England emphatically booked their quarterfinal spots with massive victories on Sunday.
While the defending Euro champs staged a 6-1 goal-fest against UK rivals No. 30 Wales to advance, Les Bleues overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to sink the No. 11 Netherlands 5-2 on Sunday, taking the lead with an astounding three goals in six minutes — including a brace from San Diego Wave attacker Delphine Cascarino.
How to watch the 2025 Euro quarterfinals
The eight quarterfinalists have a short break to celebrate and prepare, as their 2025 Euro slate is wiped clean before the knockouts begin on Wednesday.
Each 2025 Euro quarterfinal will take the pitch on consecutive days, with all matches kicking off at 3 PM ET:
- Wednesday: No. 16 Norway vs. No. 13 Italy
- Thursday: No. 6 Sweden vs. No. 5 England
- Friday: No. 2 Spain vs. No. 23 Switzerland
- Saturday: No. 10 France vs. No. 3 Germany
Live coverage will air across Fox Sports platforms.
World No. 10 France opened their 2025 Euro campaign with a bang on Saturday, beating defending champs No. 5 England 2-1 to better their chances of escaping a tough group stage draw.
Currently sitting atop Group D — the notorious "Group of Death" that includes France and England — are the No. 11 Netherlands, who opened their European Championship tournament run with a 3-0 win over Euro debutants No. 30 Wales.
Notably, star forward Vivianne Miedema made history in the victory, becoming the first-ever Dutch player to score 100 international goals with her record-setting first-half strike on Saturday.
Also hitting the ground running in their first group-stage match were 2023 World Cup champions and world No. 2 Spain, who routed No. 22 Portugal 5-0 on Thursday — La Roja's biggest Euro victory to date.
Gotham FC star Esther González notched a brace in that opener before tallying another goal in Spain's 6-2 win over No. 20 Belgium on Monday — tying the NWSL scoring leader with teammate Alexia Putellas atop the early 2025 Euro Golden Boot race.
Reigning atop Group B, Spain is now guaranteed a spot in the tournament knockouts, joining Group A's No. 16 Norway — the first team to advance from group play.
Norway handed No. 26 Finland a 2-1 defeat in their second match on Sunday, mere hours before host nation No. 23 Switzerland's 2-0 win both eliminated No. 14 Iceland and punched the Norwegians' quarterfinals ticket.
How to watch the 2025 Euro group stage action
The second-match cycle of the 2025 Euro group stage continues on Tuesday before wrapping up on Wednesday.
England's 12 PM ET Wednesday game vs. the Netherlands is already stealing the midweek spotlight, as the Lionesses will need a result against the Dutch to realistically keep their back-to-back title hopes alive.
Live coverage of 2025 Euro matches airs across Fox Sports platforms.