The 2025 European Championship is officially underway, as Euro action kicked off with a group-stage upset on Wednesday.
Though the 2025 UEFA tournament's opener was a sweltering affair amid a European heat wave, world No. 26 Finland prevailed, earning a 1-0 upset win over No. 14 Iceland in Group A.
Finnish winger Katariina Kosola played hero, curling in the winning goal in the match's 70th minute — just 12 minutes after Iceland midfielder Hildur Antonsdóttir picked up the competition's first red card.
"The result is important for our confidence," Kosola said after Finland's first major tournament win since the 2009 Euro. "It was the kind of goal I have been practicing a lot."
"It's terrible to lose and we feel frustrated," said Iceland head coach Thorsteinn Halldórsson. "It is an even group and we knew Finland were good, but our first half wasn't good enough."
Elsewhere, No. 16 Norway closed out Wednesday's slate on top of Group A, taking three points by defeating host No. 23 Switzerland in day's second match.
Led by captain and 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg — who pulled the match even with a second-half strike — Norway battled to a 2-1 comeback win, despite the Swiss side outshooting and out-possessing the Norwegians.

How to watch this week's 2025 Euro action
Group B steals the 2025 Euro spotlight on Thursday.
While No. 13 Italy snagged a 1-0 opening win over No. 20 Belgium to kick off the day, 2023 World Cup champions and tournament favorite No. 2 Spain will face No. 22 Portugal at 3 PM ET.
Friday's Group C slate will pit No. 12 Denmark against No. 6 Sweden at 12 PM ET, before No. 3 Germany contends with No. 27 Poland at 3 PM ET.
Closing out the first group-stage matches will be arguably the toughest draw of the 2025 Euro pool.
Saturday's Group D slate features major tournament debutants No. 30 Wales against the No. 11 Netherlands at 12 PM ET, with No. 10 France taking on defending champions No. 5 England to cap the day at 3 PM ET.
Live coverage of 2025 Euro matches will air across Fox Sports platforms.
The 2025 European Championship kicks off today in Switzerland, with this year's tournament set to have the largest US broadcast footprint in Women's Euros history.
All games are set to air live on FOX Sports, so Stateside soccer fans can enjoy some top-notch football alongside their morning cup of coffee. The 16-team event runs from July 2nd through July 27th, with a four-team group stage followed by quarterfinal, semifinal, and final knockout rounds.
To double down on US interest, more than a few Euro 2025 rosters feature standout NWSL players. The heroes of this year's UEFA Women's Champions League are also well represented, with top UWCL athletes vying for continental glory across the 16 national teams.
Still have questions about what to expect from the most hyped Women's Euros on record? Check out this handy group stage guide, setting the scene for USWNT and NWSL fans looking for a European favorite to cheer for throughout Euro 2025.

Group A: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland
Euros players to know:
Finland: Natalia Kuikka (Chicago Stars)
Iceland: Sveindís Jónsdóttir (Angel City)
Norway: Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona), Ingrid Engen (FC Barcelona), Ada Hegerberg (OL Lyonnes), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Frida Maanum (Arsenal)
Switzerland: Ana-Maria Crnogorčević (Seattle Reign), Lia Wälti (Arsenal)
Major Euro 2025 storylines: You likely won't find a tournament winner in this group, with Group A's teams uniformly considered to be some of the weakest contenders. Despite serious talent, Norway has been an underachiever in recent years, though their positioning should see them sail through to the knockouts.
But Norway's stumbles might be the average fan's gain, as the right performance could always spell an upset. Iceland plays physical, end-to-end football, while Finland lists individual players that can flip a game on its head.
Host nation Switzerland isn't exactly considered a threat, but head coach Pia Sundhage (formerly of the USWNT, Sweden, and Brazil) brings a pragmatism that can stir up wins. But barring truly wacky results, Norway should make their way out of Group A on top. And with a little help, Iceland could join them by keeping games close.
Most likely to advance: Norway, Iceland

Group B: Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal
Euros players to know:
Spain: Aitana Bonmatí (FC Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona), Esther González (Gotham FC), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Leila Ouahabi (Manchester City), Salma Paralluelo (FC Barcelona)
Portugal: Jéssica Silva (Gotham FC), Nádia Gomes (Chicago Stars)
Italy: Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit)
Belgium: Amber Tysiak (West Ham United)
Major Euro 2025 storylines: Spain is Group B's obvious frontrunner, and is considered one of the favorites to win the whole tournament. Their 2023 World Cup-winning roster remains mostly intact, stocked with enough international experience and on-pitch chemistry to intimidate any opponent. Spain's also got a solid track record against European competition, taking down continental neighbors en route to the World Cup knockouts before winning 2024 Nations League.
But despite high hopes to win a first-ever Euros, Spain's isn't invincable. The team is still dealing with availability issues stemming from both injury and their World Cup-related federation dysfunction. On-field, they can also fall victim to their own style of play. And while many of their players already play together at Barcelona, there's always a big difference between club and country.
Of course, these are minor criticisms for a Spanish side predicted to break out of their Euros slump. Spain should comfortably finish atop Group B, with a heated competition for second nipping at their heels.
Portugal, Italy, and Belgium have all seen success at the Nations League level. But they remain unproven on the greater global stage. Italy and Belgium have swapped important wins in recent matchups — including Belgium's upset over England — while Portugal has struggled to get results. That means Group B's second place slot is wide open, but Italy's roster depth might lead them to break ground.
Most likely to advance: Spain, Italy

Group C: Denmark, Germany, Poland, Sweden
Euros players to know:
Germany: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Sara Däbritz (OL Lyonnes), Jule Brand (Wolfsburg), Lea Schüller (Bayern Munich)
Denmark: Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich), Janni Thomsen (Utah Royals), Josefine Hasbo (Gotham FC), Nadia Nadim (Hammarby, previously Racing Louisville)
Sweden: Magda Eriksson (Bayern Munich), Hanna Lundkvist (San Diego Wave), Sofia Jakobsson (London City), Kosovare Asllani (London City), Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal), Fridolina Rolfö (FC Barcelona), Lina Hurtig ( Fiorentina, previously Arsenal)
Poland: Ewa Pajor (FC Barcelona)
Major Euro 2025 storylines: The competition really starts to heat up when you reach Group C — at least on paper. Germany has won the Euros eight times, and consistently qualifies for major tournaments. Their struggles in the 2023 World Cup notwithstanding, Germany has never been a team that gets grouped easily.
But the other Group C teams could absolutely push through via talent and opportunity alone. Sweden has one of the deepest rosters in the competition, from UWCL winners to a wealth of international experience. Sweden in particular, as USWNT fans know, frequently starts a tournament looking like a frontrunner, blowing through teams before eventually fizzling out in the late rounds.
Both Denmark and Poland have attackers that can rise to the occasion on any given day. Poland is making their Euros debut this year, after putting in consistent performances against smaller countries with few big-name club players at their disposal. Denmark has performed similarly, though they've had trouble when up against more formidable competition.
Most likely to advance: Germany, Sweden

Group D: England, France, the Netherlands, Wales
Euros players to know:
England: Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea), Aggie Beaver-Jones (Chelsea), Kiera Walsh (Chelsea), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United)
France: Griedge Mbock (PSG), Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea), Amel Majri (OL Lyonnes), Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave), Marie-Antoinette Katoto (OL Lyonnes), Kadidiatou Diani (OL Lyonnes)
The Netherlands: Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City), Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal), Danielle van de Donk (London City Lionesses), Damaris Egurrola (OL Lyonnes), Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City), Dominique Janssen (Manchester United), Victoria Pelova (Arsenal), Jackie Groenen (PSG), Esmee Brugts (Barcelona), Sherida Spitse (Ajax)
Wales: Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Angharad James-Turner (Seattle Reign), Gemma Evans (Liverpool), Hayley Ladd (Everton), Charlie Estcourt (DC Power FC), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City)
Major Euro 2025 storylines: Mutually assured destruction? Even in a tournament with more than one competitive group, Group D is capital-D difficult enough that it's guaranteed to send a Euros front-runner home before they even reach the knockout stage.
Despite entering as the reigning European champs, England fans will have to do a quick assessment on the team's mental focus. Ups and downs in recent Nations League matches and more than one sudden high-profile retirement have recently called the squad's locker room vibes into question.
The Lionesses have been criticized for lack of roster rotation after their second-place 2023 World Cup finish. Coach Sarina Wiegman has quickly upended that status quo, however, making several major changes that left a younger, new-look team unsettled ahead of their 2022 Euros title defense. Of course, they still have the depth and style it takes to make a deep run this year, but they'll have to avoid lapses in play and shifting chemistry to get there.
As for France, Les Bleues have also grown more youthful, leaving longtime leaders Wendie Renard and Eugenie Le Sommer off the roster for the first time in recent memory. Reaching the semis in 2022, they've been contenders in every Euros cycle. But despite the strong showings, France has yet to lift a major international trophy.
The biggest thing holding France back is their own record. Les Bleues crashed out of the 2024 Paris Olympics on home soil after failing to make it beyond the 2023 World Cup quarterfinals. France could be a Euros favorite, but they'll have to make history to succeed.
The Netherlands might be the worst possible group stage assignment a team could draw aside from a clear frontrunner. The 2017 Euros champs arrive with serious experience, able to overpower any opponent with smart, matter-of-fact football. If France and England show weakness, expect the Dutch to ride physicality and speed all the way to the knockouts.
Armed with a surprisingly solid lineup led by NWSL legend Jess Fishlock, underdog Wales is here to play spoiler. If they grab points off mercurial England or pressure an underachieving France, these Euros debutants could have a real shot.
Most likely to advance: The Netherlands, England
How to watch UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in the United States
US viewers can catch all the Euros matches across FOX Sports. 19 matches will air exclusively on FOX, 11 airing on FS1, and one airing on FS2.
Cord-cutters can also access English-speaking Euro 2025 broadcasts live on Disney+ while VIX will carry the Spanish-language versions.
Reigning back-to-back Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí will soon re-join her Spain teammates at their 2025 Euro training camp, with doctors discharging the star midfielder on Sunday after a brief hospitalization for viral meningitis.
Calling the 27-year-old "a very important player for us," Spain manager Montse Tomé told media on Friday that "The word is definitely scary, but the doctor tells me it is under control."
"Thanks to everyone for the messages I've received and to those who have helped me these past few days," Bonmatí posted to social media. "Fortunately, everything is going well. I hope to be back soon."
The reigning World Cup champions are still hunting their first-ever Euro title, with national team feeder clubs like FC Barcelona poised to cash in on participating players.
Last week, UEFA upped its club benefits program budget to €9 million ($10.6 million) following a recommendation from the European Club Association — a full doubling of the €4.5 million ($5.3 million) paid to clubs sending players to the 2022 summer tournament.
Under the program, Euro athletes' home clubs will be compensated a daily rate of €985 ($1,159) for releasing the player for the during of the tournament.
With training camp preparation days, clubs across Europe will receive between €19,700 ($23,186) and €36,445 ($42,894) for each player competing at the 2025 Euro, depending on how deep a run that athlete's national team makes in the July competition.
For Bonmatí's home club Barcelona, which sent 18 players to represent eight of the tournament's 16 teams — nearly their entire roster and more than any other club — that means a minimum club payday of €354,600 ($417,346) with a ceiling likely surpassing €600,000 ($706,000).
The FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 has arrived, with the 16-team regional tournament tipping off its group stage on Wednesday before the knockout stages begin on June 24th.
Hosted across the continent with games in Czechia, Germany, Italy, and Greece, the 40th edition of the annual competition carries the additional weight of serving as a qualifying event for the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.
As a result, the top five teams in this month's EuroBasket contest will earn automatic spots in one of the March 2026 qualifiers.
Leading the charge to this year's trophy are 2023 winners Belgium, who enter the EuroBasket tournament as reigning champions.
However, 2024 Olympic silver medalists France have since stepped into the spotlight, with the always-dangerous Spain also threatening a podium finish.
Familiar faces to WNBA fans will feature on the 2025 EuroBasket courts this month, as several WNBA players have temporarily departed their US clubs to join their national teams in Europe, including Belgium guard Julie Allemand (LA Sparks), Great Britain center Temi Fagbenle (Golden State Valkyries), and Germany forward Leonie Fiebich (New York Liberty).
As a major international tournament, the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket is exempt from the WNBA's prioritization rule, meaning eligible players can miss regular-season league play to compete in the overseas contest without being in violation of WNBA protocols.
How to watch FIBA Women's EuroBasket in the US
The EuroBasket group-stage action tipped off on Wednesday morning, with all games streaming live on Courtside 1891.
Spain's High Court issued a guilty verdict to Luis Rubiales early Thursday morning, finding that the former Spanish football federation president sexually assaulted Spain national team striker Jenni Hermoso.
The two-week trial centered on Rubiales forcibly kissing Hermoso during the 2023 World Cup trophy ceremony, as well as coercion attempts by both Rubiales and three other co-defendants to prod Hermoso into telling the public that the kiss was consensual after the fact.
Rubiales fined but avoids jail sentence
In the ruling, the court ordered Rubiales to pay a fine of €10,800 for the assault offense, but cleared him of coercion alongside the other trio of ex-federation officials.
Rubiales faced up to four years in prison if convicted on both charges, with prosecutors arguing for an incarceration period of two-and-a-half years. Also on the table was a maximum €50,000 in damages as well as a permanent ban on Rubiales from ever serving as a sports official again.
In addition to the fine, the judge banned Rubiales from communicating with or being within a 200-meter radius of Hermoso for one year. He must also compensate her an additional €3,000 for "moral damage."
In his delivery, Judge José Manuel Fernández-Prieto deemed the kiss "not the normal way of greeting people with whom one does not have an emotional relationship."
Despite calling it a "reprehensible act," the judge ruled against prison time on the basis that there was no intimidation or violence.
"The pecuniary penalty must be chosen, which is less serious than the custodial sentence," Fernández-Prieto explained in his ruling.

Rubiales sentencing earns praise and consternation
While many are celebrating Thursday's guilty verdict, the Rubiales's punishment sparked differing reactions — namely due to the lack of incarceration time.
Applauding the outcome was Spain’s minister of equality Ana Redondo, who tweeted, "When there is no consent, there is aggression, and that is what the judge certifies in this sentence."
On the other hand, the Federation of Progressive Women, a Spanish nonprofit that fights for gender equity, said the minimal sentencing sparked "deep disappointment."
"It has a deactivating effect on complaints from women who suffer #sexualviolence, reinforces distrust in the judicial system, and strengthens aggressors."
The 2027 Women's World Cup has officially claimed its calendar spot, with FIFA announcing Tuesday that the tournament's Brazil-hosted 10th edition — the first-ever in South America — will run from June 24th through July 25th.
"The FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 is already taking shape and we can’t wait for the opening match," said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Looking to break 2023's record-setting attendance and viewership numbers, Infantino also noted, "This historic tournament will have a massive impact not only in South America, but around the whole world, taking the women's game to the next level in terms of participation and popularity."
Prepping for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers
The international soccer governing body also allocated the competition's 32 available spots, with CONMEBOL's Brazil earning automatic entry as one of the three slots granted to the continental confederation.
UEFA leads the pool with 11 teams, followed by AFC with six, CAF and Concacaf with four each, and OFC's one.
The final three squads will be determined by a 10-team, two-round play-in tournament taking place in late 2026 and February 2027.

The road to Brazil kicks off in 2025
With details including host cities and venues still to come, the road to the 2027 World Cup is ramping up with qualifying matches looming just around the corner.
Next year's UEFA Nations League play will determine the 11 European teams bound for Brazil, including 2023 world champions Spain. Meanwhile, the path to a fifth star for the world No. 1 USWNT crest begins with Concacaf W Qualifiers in late 2025.
Similarly, 2025 qualifying matches for the 2026 AFC Asian Cup and 2026 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off World Cup entrances for teams in those federations. CONMEBOL will look to the 2025 Copa América tournament to determine the remaining two entrants that will compete alongside host Brazil, while OFC is likely to set their World Cup qualifying matches for next year.

Superstar exits pave the way for new World Cup stars
Both expected and surprise entrants will book their 2027 World Cup spots over the next two years, but the Brazil tournament's sidelines are already set to feature fresh faces after a flood of soccer greats called game in 2024.
The host nation will compete in their first World Cup since 1999 without legendary attacker Marta, whose 17 goals lead the tournament's all-time scoring list.
Canada is suffering the same fate with 2027 marking the first edition in 28 years without leading international goalscorer Christine Sinclair.
Two-time trophy-winners Germany — the only team other than the US with more than one world title — recently bid adieu to star Alexandra Popp, who retired as a four-time World Cup competitor.
As for the USWNT, they'll look to follow their 2024 Olympic gold medal with a 2027 World Cup title, but without star striker Alex Morgan, defender Kelley O'Hara, or goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who followed 2023 retirees Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz out the door this year.
The USWNT is one match away from their ultimate goal after making their way through a grueling Olympic tournament to advance to Saturday's gold medal game against Brazil.
This will be the third Olympic gold medal match meeting for the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup finalists, with the US defeating Brazil at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Games to top the podium.
Retiring Marta fuels Brazil's podium push
While the USWNT — fresh off a disappointing 2023 World Cup run — are undoubtedly motivated in their push for gold, Brazil might have an even greater galvanizing force. Legendary Brazil footballer Marta announced in April that the 2024 Games would be her last international tournament with Brazil — a team that's never before won a World Cup or Olympic title.
What's more, Marta's teammates carried the burden of reaching the gold medal game: The 38-year-old will return on Saturday after a two-game red card suspension dating back to the team's final group stage game against Spain.

Attacking key to USWNT Olympic gold medal success
The US most recently defeated Brazil 1-0 at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup final behind Lindsey Horan's 46th-minute goal in stoppage time. That said, Brazil arguably has more immediate momentum after rattling off two major upsets in the Olympic knockout rounds, first against France and then Spain.
To win, the US will have to stifle Brazil's potent attack in what will likely be an open end-to-end battle, while simultaneously converting their chances in front of goal.

Germany denies World Cup champs in bronze medal match
Germany beat Spain 1-0 in this morning's bronze medal contest, leaving the reigning World Cup champions and early tournament favorites without a medal for their efforts in Paris.
Giulia Gwinn put Germany ahead in the second half, sinking a penalty after being fouled in Spain's 18-yard box. Later, Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger once again played the hero for Germany, saving an Alexia Putellas penalty kick in second-half stoppage time to secure the clean sheet.
How to watch USWNT vs. Brazil in the Olympic gold-medal match
The USWNT kicks off the gold medal match against Brazil on Saturday at 11 AM ET, with live coverage across NBC networks.
The 91st, your one-stop-shop for all things USWNT at the 2024 Paris Olympics is back and breaking down the Olympic semifinals.
It wasn't always pretty, but the result remains the same. The USWNT is through to the Olympic gold medal match after back-to-back 1-0 extra time wins over Japan and Germany. Hosts Jordan Angeli, Jess McDonald, and Duda Pavao react to those games, provide player ratings, and talk through Brazil's stunning win over World Cup champions Spain.
Later, Allie Long joins in for a game of "This or That," addressing such pressing issues as whether or not Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky is the bigger GOAT.
To close things out, the crew previews the USWNT's gold medal final and discusses whether Emma Hayes should make some shock lineup changes in order to put the best XI on the pitch.
Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.
With Olympic soccer kicking off in just over a week, the USWNT isn't the only national squad prepping for the podium with a series of pre-Paris matchups. Both international friendlies and important qualifiers are on the docket, with several European teams competing for a spot in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025.
Regardless of the stakes, these performances might provide some insight into what the USWNT can expect once the Summer Games begin.

Pre-Olympic matches expose problems for top teams
Of the 12 Olympic teams, recent outings from FIFA world No. 1 Spain and No. 4 Germany featured the most shocking outcomes.
Despite dominating possession behind an opening goal from 2023 Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, the 2023 World Cup winners fell 2-1 to No. 30 Czechia in Friday's Euros qualifier — their first loss of 2024. They managed to bounce back on Tuesday, however, beating Belgium 2-0 to finish out the league stage on top with 15 points.
Spain heads into the Summer Games aiming to become the first women’s team to win a World Cup and Olympic gold back-to-back, though they’ll need to reclaim their composure to achieve that feat in the face of an Olympic group that includes Japan, Nigeria, and Brazil.

No. 2 France took down No. 6 Sweden 2-1 in Friday's Euro qualifier, but flipped the script on Tuesday with a 3-1 loss to last-place No. 25 Republic of Ireland, who notched their first win. However, thanks to England's 0-0 draw with Sweden — also on Tuesday — France still topped their qualifying group with 12 points. Les Bleus will look for more consistent results going into the Olympics, where they're set to face Colombia, New Zealand, and Guinea in the group stage.
But it was Germany who stumbled the hardest, losing out 3-0 to No. 14 Iceland in their own Friday qualifier. After the match, Germany's head coach Horst Hrubesch didn’t mince words.
"We have to assert ourselves from the start in the individual battles. The way we played just wasn’t good," Hrubesch told reporters. "We deserved to lose. We handed them all three goals on a plate."
Tuesday also saw improvement for Germany, as they routed Austria 4-0 to claim first place in the group standings with 15 points.
But the earlier loss was still foreboding for this German squad. The two-time world champions fell to 3-2 to Zambia just weeks before the 2023 World Cup, before failing to advance past the World Cup group stage for the first time in the tournament’s history. Germany also faces some tough Olympic group stage competition, battling Australia and the USWNT before crossing paths with Zambia once again.

Friendlies rally Olympic teams outside Europe
Defending Olympic champs FIFA World No. 8 Canada defeated No. 12 Australia 2-1 on Saturday, with KC Current forward Nichelle Prince and ex-Gotham striker Evelyne Viens both scoring in the friendly. Canada will play world No. 36 Nigeria in a closed-door friendly on Wednesday before kicking off their Olympic campaign against New Zealand on July 25th.
For their part, No. 28 New Zealand drew 1-1 in a friendly with No. 64 Zambia on Saturday, while non-Olympic-bound Ecuador handed No. 22 Colombia a 2-1 send-off loss.
Alexia Putellas has re-signed with FC Barcelona on a new two-year deal that will run through 2026. The agreement includes an option for a one-year extension.
The two-time Ballon d’Or winner has been with Barcelona for 12 years, and her previous contract was set to expire next month. However, she’s spent the better part of the last two seasons battling injuries, starting with an ACL tear that kept her out of the 2022 UEFA European Women's Football Championship and limited her participation in Spain’s FIFA Women's World Cup win last summer.
Putellas returned in March from her latest injury setback, making 25 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona this season and scoring 10 goals.
In total, the midfielder has made 400 appearances for Barcelona. Among her 20 major trophies with the club include eight Liga F titles and two UEFA Champions League titles — including helping the team to its first European trophy in 2021.
She then won the Ballon d’Or in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Putellas could add a third Champions League trophy next weekend, when Barcelona faces familiar foe Lyon, a team they’ve lost to in two previous Champions League finals. Should they secure the UWCL, they would win the quadruple for the first time, having already won Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, and the Spanish Supercopa.