Euro 2025 draw LIVE: England and Wales face blockbuster group as opponents revealed
The Lionesses and Wales will face each other along with France and Netherlands in a tough Group D
European champions England will play debutants Wales along with France and the Netherlands as the Euro 2025 draw threw up a blockbuster group for the Lionesses ahead of next summer’s tournament in Switzerland.
Holders England will open their Euros defence against heavyweights France on July 5 while Wales will make their first-ever appearance at a major women’s tournament when they face former champions the Netherlands.
Sarina Wiegman will then face her home nation and former side when England take on the Dutch on July 9, before the Lionesses conclude Group D with a ‘battle of Britain’ clash against Wales in St Gallen.
The tournament itself kicks off on July 2 with hosts Switzerland opening the Championships against Norway in Basel. Follow the Euro 2025 draw below as England and Wales learn their group stage opponents
Euro 2025 fixtures, dates and kick-off times
The Euro 2025 match schedule has been confirmed by Uefa.
In Group A, Switzerland will kick off against Norway in Basel on 2 July - but the opening game of the tournament will come earlier that evening when Iceland face Finland in Thun.
Euro 2025 fixtures, dates and kick-off times as England and Wales learn group draw
The Lionesses will be defending their European crown when the tournament kicks off in Switzerland in July
England and Wales to face each other and Euro 2025 heavyweights in tough draw
England will face debutants Wales, France and the Netherlands at Euro 2025 in Switzerland as the Lionesses kick off the defence of their European crown in a tough group that is bursting with narrative.
The Lionesses open their tournament against France in Zurich on Saturday 5 July before Sarina Wiegman faces her native country and former team Netherlands on Wednesday 9 July.
England and first-time qualifiers Wales will then meet in a ‘Battle of Britain’ clash in St Gallen on Sunday 12 July, that could well have a say in determining the outcome of a blockbuster Group D.
Rhian Wilkinson’s side secured their history place at the tournament by beating the Republic of Ireland in a play-off and they will play their first match against 2017 winners Netherlands on in Lucerne on 5 July.
Wiegman’s European champions will know they cannot afford a slow start to their touranment defence when they begin against France, with only the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals.
England and Wales to face each other and Euro 2025 heavyweights in tough draw
Holders England and debutants Wales are joined by France and the Netherlands in Group D
Euro 2025 to stage ‘Wiegman derby'
Meanwhile, England’s second match of Group D against the Netherlands is set to be a special occasion for Sarina Wiegman.
Not only is it a meeting of her home country and her adopted nation, but it is also a clash of the last two winners of the European Championships.
Wiegman led England to glory at Euro 2022 after lifting Euro 2017 with the Dutch.
England’s last matches against Wales, France and Netherlands
Despite their proximity, England and Wales have not actually met since 2018 (a 3-0 win for the Lionesses in World Cup qualifying while Phil Neville was still England manager).
But they faced the Netherlands twice in 2023 and France twice in 2024. Sarina Wiegman’s side lost to the Dutch 2-1 away from home in the Women’s Nations League, before a 3-2 comeback win at Wembley.
They played France in the summer in qualifying for the Euro 2025. The Lionesses lost 2-1 to France at St James’ Park on May 31 before beating Les Bleues by the same scoreline just a few days later.
Euro 2025 fixtures as England and Wales learn group draw
England’s group stage opponents at Euro 2025 have been revealed, with the Lionesses taking on debutants Wales, France and the Netherlands in a blockbuster draw.
Sarina Wiegman’s side are defending champions having lifted the trophy on home soil with a memorbale victory over Germany in the Euro 2022 final.
They will be joined by first-time qualifiers Wales who will make their major tournament debuts in the July finals after a historic victory over the Republic of Ireland in the play-offs.
Euro 2025 will kick off in Switzerland on Wednesday 2 July. The final will be played at St-Jakob’s Park in Basel on Sunday 27 July.
Euro 2025 fixtures, dates and kick-off times as England and Wales learn group draw
The Lionesses will be defending their European crown when the tournament kicks off in Switzerland in July
Euro 2025 draw LIVE
Meanwhile, it’s a very good draw for world champions Spain, who will be out to win the Women’s Euros for the first time.
The tournament favourites should be confident of going through against Italy, Belgium and Portugal, and they have landed on the more favourable side of the draw.
They will not need to play any of England, Germany, France, Sweden or the Netherlands until the final.
Euro 2025 draw LIVE
By the way, it was former Italy captain and Euro 2020 final goalscorer Leonardo Bonucci who pulled England’s name out of the hat.
Euro 2025 draw LIVE
It’s an exciting group for England and Sarina Wiegman, but the Lionesses will know that they have to be on it from the start when they begin their touranment defence against France.
Any slip-ups on the opening night would make their next game against the Netherlands potentially very awkward, and Wales will be out to cause an upset as the underdogs against three heavyweight sides.
Only the top two teams go through to the quarter-finals.
Euro 2025 draw LIVE
What a group for England and Wales - every match one to look forward to!
England fixtures:
5th July in Zurich vs France
9th July in Zurich vs Netherlands
13th July in St. Gallen vs Wales
Wales fixtures:
5th July in Lucerne vs Netherlands
9th July in St Gallen vs France
13th July in St Gallen vs England
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