Friday, November 22, 2024

England to face Spain in Women’s Nations League

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Spain won their first major women’s trophy when they defeated England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final [Getty Images]

England have been drawn in the same group as world champions Spain for the 2025 Women’s Nations League.

Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses fell to a 1-0 defeat by Spain in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, while Spain are also the reigning Nations League champions.

The two sides are joined by Belgium and Portugal in League A Group A3.

Scotland have been drawn alongside Euro 2022 finalists Germany in League A Group A1, along with the Netherlands and Austria.

Also in League A, Wales are in Group A4 with Italy, Denmark and Sweden.

Northern Ireland will face Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania in League B Group B1.

Group games will take place between February and June – before Euro 2025, where England will be the defending champions, starts in Switzerland on 2 July.

What is the Nations League format?

The tournament follows a similar format to the men’s event, with the 53 participating teams divided into three leagues.

The four League A group winners will meet in the semi-finals, which are followed by a third-place play-off and the final.

In a change from the inaugural edition of the Nations League, these knockout ties will be played over two legs.

The teams who finish fourth in each League A group will be relegated, with the League B group winners going up to replace them.

In League B, each fourth-placed team will be relegated, as will the two lowest-ranked third-placed teams. Each of League C’s six group winners will be promoted.

The Nations League will also affect qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The top two teams in each group remain in League A for the European qualifiers for for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The four third-placed teams from League A will play against the second-placed teams from League B, with the winner playing in League A for the World Cup qualifying phase.

In League B, the two best third-placed teams play off against the two best-ranked second-placed teams of League C, with the winners playing in League B for the World Cup qualifying phase.

When are Women’s Nations League games played?

Matchdays one and two: 19-26 February

Matchday three and four: 2-8 April

Matchday five and six: 28 May-3 June

Semi-finals (two legs): 22-28 October

Final/third place play-off (two legs): 26 November – 2 December

League A

Group A1: Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Scotland.

Group A2: France, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland.

Group A3: Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal.

Group A4: Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Wales.

League B

Group B1: Poland, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania.

Group B2: Republic of Ireland, Turkey, Slovenia, Greece.

Group B3: Finland, Serbia, Hungary, Belarus.

Group B4: Czech Republic, Ukraine, Croatia, Albania.

League C

Group C1: Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova, Gibraltar.

Group C2: Malta, Georgia, Cyprus, Andorra.

Group C3: Luxembourg, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group C4: Azerbaijan, Montenegro, Lithuania.

Group C5: Israel, Bulgaria, Estonia.

Group C6: Kosovo, Latvia, North Macedonia.

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