The Welsh women’s football team, having recently secured a historic qualification for their debut international tournament at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, are set to face a big challenge after being drawn into the so-called “Group of Death” for the competition, Group D. The group features reigning champions England, 2017 winners the Netherlands, and France, who reached the semifinals in the previous tournament.
Wales have already provided the underdog story of the competition beating out, the (according to FIFA) higher ranked Republic of Ireland to reach the tournament, making them the lowest ranked team in the upcoming Euros. Therefore, a potential upset against one of these heavyweights of women’s football cannot be ruled out.
Cymru seem to be dedicated to coming into the tournament with the best team possible. With the January transfer window seeing Hayley Ladd, an integral part of the Wales squad, moving from Manchester United, where she was not getting playing time, to Everton, where despite not challenging at the top of the table like Manchester United, getting key minutes in preparation for this summer.
Wales will open their Euros campaign against the Netherlands on the 5th of July, with an exciting and perhaps consequential final group game against England waiting on the 13th of July. It will certainly be a tough fixture; however, with rivalry and potential qualification to the latter stages of the tournament on the line, anything could happen!
Across the tournament, hosts Switzerland were dealt with a kind draw, with their group including a Nordic trio of Norway, Iceland, and Finland. World Champions Spain should secure knockout qualification in a group that includes Portugal, Belgium, and Italy. Group C provides a bit more competition than the previous groups, with Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and debutants Poland all competing for spots in the knockout round.
For now, Wales has a lineup of Nations League fixtures that should line up as good preparation for the tournament, with their group containing Sweden, Italy, and Denmark, all competing at the European Championship this summer.