Headline:
England Drawn into Competitive Group for Women’s Nations League
The England women’s national football team will face tough competition in the upcoming Women’s Nations League, having been drawn with France, Austria, and Portugal. The draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland, where the squad, led by head coach Sarina Wiegman, encountered familiar opponents. The Lionesses previously faced Portugal during the last Nations League campaign and have also contended with France and Austria in recent major tournament qualifiers.
England will kick off their campaign in Group A2, which includes matches scheduled across three international windows in February-March, April, and June 2027. Each team within the group will engage in home and away fixtures.
Sarina Wiegman commented on the draw, highlighting France as a formidable challenge. “France are a world-class team,” she stated. “They have so much quality, they have power, they have technique, and they have some players, of course, also playing in the WSL [Women’s Super League] and at other top clubs.” She expressed enthusiasm for the challenge, noting that it would push the team to improve.
Reflecting on past encounters, Wiegman recalled a previous match against Portugal before the last Euros, where the teams drew away and England won at home. “They’re a team who can change their style from playing a possession game to being a little more direct,” she said, acknowledging the quality and physicality of Portugal’s players.
This edition of the Women’s Nations League also serves as part of the qualification pathway for both the 2028 Olympic Games and Euro 2029. The top four group winners from League A will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for October 2027, leading up to the championship final.
In addition to England’s challenging group, Scotland will face Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland has been drawn against Spain, Norway, and Switzerland. Wales will compete against Denmark, Italy, and Iceland, while Northern Ireland will take on Poland, Finland, and Belarus.
Dates and venues for the upcoming fixtures will be confirmed in the near future.
Draw in full
League A
Group 1: Spain, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland
Group 2: France, England, Austria, Portugal
Group 3: Denmark, Italy, Iceland, Wales
Group 4: Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Scotland
League B
Group 1: Serbia, Belgium, Albania, Romania
Group 2: Ukraine, Czechia, Greece, Lithuania
Group 3: Poland, Finland, Northern Ireland, Belarus
Group 4: Slovenia, Türkiye, Hungary, Kosovo
League C
Group 1: Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Gibraltar
Group 2: Latvia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Liechtenstein
Group 3: Israel, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Andorra
Group 4: Luxembourg, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Estonia
Group 5: Malta, Moldova, Cyprus, San Marino
Group 6: Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Armenia
