The UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 begins today in Switzerland with two opening games and soaring temperatures, marking the start of a tournament packed with high stakes and hotter conditions.
Iceland faces Finland at 5:00 p.m. BST to launch the event, but all eyes turn to St. Jakob-Park in Basel at 8:00 p.m., where hosts Switzerland take on Norway in front of a home crowd eager for a strong start.
This is Switzerland’s first time hosting a women’s football tournament of this size. Matches will be staged across eight cities, including Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Lucerne, and St. Gallen. UEFA chose Switzerland as host in 2023, favoring its centralized infrastructure and sustainability promises. Ticket holders have access to free public transport across the country, and group matches have been scheduled to limit team travel.
The Swiss Football Association is aiming to double the number of female players nationwide from 40,000 to 80,000 by 2027. A deep run by the home team could spark that growth. “It would be massive for Switzerland to get out of the group,” said former England forward Ellen White. “This could unite the country behind its women’s team like never before.”
Temperatures for today’s games are expected to hit 95°F (35°C), with amber-level heat alerts in place. Swiss meteorologists forecast evening temperatures of 81–86°F (27–30°C) at kickoff for the early match, and around 75–80°F (24–27°C) during Switzerland vs Norway. UEFA has prepared hydration breaks and medical protocols to protect players from heat-related stress.
Group A features Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Finland. Norway arrives under the leadership of English head coach Gemma Grainger, who has spent the past 18 months rebuilding team morale and style after internal conflict disrupted the squad’s 2023 World Cup campaign. Norway qualified after defeating Northern Ireland 7–0 on aggregate in the playoffs and is seeking to recapture past glory after falling short in recent tournaments.
In Group D, England and Wales are set for a July 13 clash, though both must navigate a tough path that includes France and the Netherlands. England enters the tournament as reigning champions but with questions after a recent defeat to Spain and the retirement of veterans Mary Earps and Fran Kirby. Millie Bright also withdrew from the squad due to injury.
Spain, crowned world champions in 2023, top the list of favorites to win Euro 2025, according to simulation data. England ranks second. Wales, appearing in its first major tournament, was given a 0% chance of winning in the same projections, though it finished second in its Nations League group behind France.
The tournament final is set for July 27 in Basel. For now, anticipation builds as fans gather across Switzerland, where the passion for the game is rising with the temperature.
