Euro 2025 Start Date, Format, and Groups

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Football fans across Europe are preparing for a monumental event in women’s sport as the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 lands in Switzerland. For the first time in its history, Switzerland will host the prestigious tournament, which promises to be a defining moment for the trajectory of women’s football.

It is the first time that Switzerland has hosted the competition, and officials are hoping to stage a tightly organised, supporter-friendly tournament. Eight cities will host the fixtures, beginning and ending at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. The knockout stage will follow the conclusion of the group phase, culminating in the final on July 27. There is a compact calendar and easy rail travel between host cities, so supporters should have no problem following events around the country.

The reigning champions, England, enter with high hopes of defending their title, while number-one-ranked Spain arrives as reigning World Cup and Nations League champions. Let’s take a closer look at when Euro 2025 kicks off and everything else you need to know.

When is Euro 2025?

The UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 is set to kick off on Wednesday, July 2nd, and it promises to be an exciting event! The opening match will take place at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, which is not only the largest stadium in Switzerland but also the beating heart of this prestigious tournament. 

This eagerly awaited opener will set the stage for nearly a month of top-tier football. The tournament will draw to a close at St. Jakob-Park on Sunday, July 27th. The group stage will unfold over the first two weeks of the tournament, followed by the knockout rounds. The quarter-finals are scheduled between July 16th and 19th, with the semifinals taking place on July 22nd and 23rd.

Where is Euro 2025?

St Jakob Park

Matches will be spread across eight stadiums in eight different cities in Switzerland, offering a regionally inclusive format that showcases the beauty and diversity of Swiss locales. Basel, the largest venue, will not only host the majority of the action, including several high-profile group games and a quarter-final.

Zurich and Geneva are also central hubs, with each city set to stage key fixtures including semi-finals. Meanwhile, Bern and Lucerne provide central options for group stage matches and knockout fixtures. Smaller cities like Thun, Sion, and St. Gallen will each host three group stage matches, giving the tournament a grassroots feel in addition to its mainstage glitz.

These venues are more intimate but no less significant, as they give fans in less metropolitan regions a chance to be part of this historic moment. Fan zones are expected to pop up across all host cities, with Basel’s Barfüsserplatz and Messeplatz leading the charge. Here, fans can gather to watch live broadcasts, enjoy concerts, and soak in the communal energy that only a football tournament can bring.

Euro 2025 Format

Sixteen teams will participate in Euro 2025, including host Switzerland, which qualified automatically. The remaining fifteen teams earned their places through a combination of UEFA Nations League results and traditional qualifiers. This edition of the tournament boasts a fascinating mix of traditional giants and emerging forces.

Group A features Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Finland, a group that offers local fans an immediate storyline. The host nation will test its mettle against both Nordic powerhouses and near-neighbours. Here’s how the groups are shaped.

Group A Switzerland Norway Iceland Finland
Group B Spain Portugal Belgium Italy
Group C Germany Poland Denmark Sweden
Group D France England Wales Netherlands

Spain has risen to dominance with a golden generation of players like Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas. They headline Group B and are favourites to top it for anyone betting on soccer. Meanwhile, Group C features three of Europe’s most consistently strong women’s teams in Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, with Poland determined to prove they belong at this level. 

Group D is perhaps the most competitive of all, with France, England, and the Netherlands all viewed as potential tournament winners. The inclusion of Wales, making their debut in a major women’s tournament, adds an underdog charm and emotional intrigue to what’s already being called the “Group of Death.” Let’s take a look at the group stage schedule.

Group A

  • Switzerland vs Austria (July 2, 18:00 GMT, Zurich)
  • Iceland vs France (July 2, 20:30 GMT, Bern)
  • France vs Austria (July 6, 17:00 GMT, Zurich)
  • Switzerland vs Iceland (July 6, 19:30 GMT, St. Gallen)
  • Austria vs Iceland (July 10, 17:00 GMT, Bern)
  • France vs Switzerland (July 10, 19:30 GMT, Basel)

Group B

  • Germany vs England (July 3, 17:00 GMT, Basel)
  • Sweden vs Italy (July 3, 19:30 GMT, Lucerne)
  • Germany vs Sweden (July 7, 17:00 GMT, Lucerne)
  • Italy vs England (July 7, 19:30 GMT, Zurich)
  • England vs Sweden (July 11, 17:00 GMT, Bern)
  • Italy vs Germany (July 11, 19:30 GMT, St. Gallen)

Group C

  • Netherlands vs Scotland (July 4, 17:00 GMT, Thun)
  • Spain vs Belgium (July 4, 19:30 GMT, Lausanne)
  • Netherlands vs Belgium (July 8, 17:00 GMT, Lausanne)
  • Spain vs Scotland (July 8, 19:30 GMT, Geneva)
  • Scotland vs Belgium (July 12, 17:00 GMT, Thun)
  • Spain vs Netherlands (July 12, 19:30 GMT, Zurich)

Group D

  • Norway vs Denmark (July 5, 17:00 GMT, Geneva)
  • Poland vs Italy (July 5, 19:30 GMT, Basel)
  • Norway vs Poland (July 9, 17:00 GMT, Lucerne)
  • Denmark vs Italy (July 9, 19:30 GMT, Lausanne)
  • Denmark vs Poland (July 13, 17:00 GMT, Zurich)
  • Norway vs Italy (July 13, 19:30 GMT, Bern)

Euro 2025 Key Dates

The teams that finish first and second in their respective groups advance to the quarterfinals. Eight teams battle it out on the road to the final, beginning on July 16th. Let’s take a look at all the key dates and matchups for the knockout phase, leading up to the final.  

Quarterfinals

  • Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B (July 16, 20:00 GMT)
  • Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D (July 17, 20:00 GMT)
  • Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A (July 18, 20:00 GMT)
  • Winner Group D vs Runner-up Group C (July 19, 20:00 GMT) 

Semifinals

  •  Winners QF3 vs Winners QF1 (July 22, 20:00 GMT) (Geneva)
  •  Winners QF4 vs Winners QF2 (July 23, 20:00 GMT) (Zurich) 

Final

  •  Winners SF1 vs Winners SF2 (July 27, 17:00 GMT) (Basel)

Where To Watch Euro 2025

Fans in the Republic of Ireland can watch every match live on RTÉ and RTÉ Player, while viewers in the UK can catch the action on BBC and ITV, including their streaming platforms iPlayer and ITVX. ITV has assembled a powerhouse team of pundits and presenters, including Laura Woods, Emma Hayes, and Karen Carney, providing both expert commentary and broad appeal. 

Betting on Euro 2025

You can bet on every match during Euro 2025 with our sportsbook. Powerhouse Spain are the current favourites to lift the trophy. England is not far behind them, worth 4/1 to retain their title. These big tournaments can often see upsets and mismatches, so keep track of our soccer predictions for tips on some of the biggest games!

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