UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 Brackets: Schedule & England’s Path

Few tournaments capture the imagination quite like the UEFA Women’s Euro, and the 2025 edition in Switzerland delivered drama from the group stage to the final, with England successfully defending their title after a tense penalty shootout against Spain in Basel. Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament schedule, the Lionesses’ path to glory, and what the result means for the future of women’s football.

Number of teams: 16 ·
Host country: Switzerland ·
Final venue: St. Jakob-Park, Basel ·
Defending champion: England ·
Top favorite (pre-tournament): Spain ·
Player of the Tournament: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)

Six key facts, one snapshot: the tournament structure is straightforward, but the financial stakes have never been higher.

Who are the favourites to win women’s euros in 2025?

Top contenders according to bookmakers

• Spain entered as the statistical favorite but lost in the final to England on penalties (UEFA.com (official tournament news)).
• England, the defending champions, were second favorite and went on to win the tournament (Sporting News, sports journalism).
• Germany and France were also strong contenders, with France reaching the semi-finals (Wikipedia (tournament overview)).

Statistical analysis from BBC and Statista

Pre-tournament odds from Statista gave Spain the highest win probability (around 30%), but England’s tournament experience proved decisive. The pattern: Favorites don’t always win. Spain dominated pre-tournament odds, but England’s experience and determination carried them through the toughest knockout path.

The pattern: Statistical favorites can be overcome by experience and defensive resilience.

In which city will the final of the women’s Euro 2025 be held?

Venue details: St. Jakob-Park

• The final was held at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland, on 27 July 2025 (UEFA.com (match schedule official)).
• Venue capacity is 38,512 (Wikipedia (tournament overview)).

Why this matters: Basel’s selection as host city underscores Switzerland’s investment in women’s football infrastructure. The city’s central location also made it accessible for fans from across Europe.

Who do England play if they beat Sweden?

England’s path through the bracket

• England beat Sweden 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the quarter-final on 17 July in Zurich (Sporting News (knockout bracket)).
• England then faced Italy in the semi-final, winning 2-1 after extra time on 22 July in Geneva (UEFA.com (match schedule)).
• The final was against Spain, with England winning 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw (UEFA.com (final report)).

Semi-final opponent scenario

If England beat Sweden, they faced the winner of Netherlands vs Spain. In reality, Spain beat the Netherlands, but Italy upset Spain in the quarter-finals, sending Spain to the other half of the bracket. The trade-off: England’s route was one of the toughest on paper, but they navigated penalty shootouts and extra time to retain their crown.

What this means: England’s versatility across different playing styles was key to their success.

Have Lionesses ever won the Euros?

England’s Euro history

• England won the UEFA Women’s Euro for the first time in 2022, beating Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley (UEFA.com (history)).
• They are the defending champions and successfully retained the title in 2025 (Fox Sports (tournament summary)).

2022 triumph

The 2022 victory at Wembley was a watershed moment for women’s football in England, drawing record audiences and inspiring a generation. The 2025 repeat cements that legacy. For fans of knockout football, a similar bracket dynamic can be seen in the FA Cup Quarter Final Draw 2025-26: Results and Fixtures.

The implication: England’s back-to-back titles signal a new era of dominance.

How likely is England to win the Euros?

Probability estimates from BBC analysis

• England entered as second favorites but overcame Spain, the statistical favorite, in the final (Sporting News (match report)).
• Spain had the highest pre-tournament win probability (around 30%) according to Statista, but England’s resilience won through (ESPN (prize money report)).

Comparison with other top teams

The gap between the top five teams is closing. Germany reached the semi-finals, France impressed in the group stage, and the Netherlands showed quality despite an early exit. The catch: Probability models can’t factor in tournament experience. England’s winning mentality proved decisive.

The catch: Probability models don’t account for intangibles like penalty shootout composure.

Who is the best player in the women’s Euro?

Aitana Bonmatí named Player of the Tournament

• UEFA named Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí as Player of the Tournament for the 2025 edition (UEFA.com (official announcement)).
• Bonmatí also won the Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2023 and 2024, underlining her status as the world’s best.

Other standout performers

England’s Beth Mead, Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfö, and Italy’s Barbara Bonansea all had strong tournaments. But Bonmatí’s consistency throughout the knockout stages made her the clear choice. Why this matters: Bonmatí’s recognition cements Spain’s individual talent even as the team fell short collectively.

The takeaway: Individual brilliance can be recognized even when the team falls short.

“Aitana Bonmatí was the standout performer, earning the Player of the Tournament award for her consistently brilliant displays across the knockout stages.”

UEFA.com, official tournament website

“The decision to mandate that 30% of prize money goes directly to the players is a game-changer. It ensures the athletes who generate this revenue share in the financial growth of the sport.”

ESPN, prize money analysis

The 2025 UEFA Women’s Euro proved that England’s 2022 triumph was no fluke. For the Lionesses, the repeat title means they have established a dynasty. For the rest of Europe, the message is clear: to win, you must go through England – and that requires not just talent, but tactical discipline and nerve in shootouts. For England’s players, the reported £50,000 per-player bonus is a tangible reward, but the real prize is the legacy they have built.

Frequently asked questions