Ireland to face England in tough Euro 2025 qualifying draw

Michael Bolton

Ireland women's side have been drawn to face England in a difficult qualifying draw for Euro 2025.

Eileen Gleeson's side will also face Sweden and France in a tough Euro 2025 Group 3A.

England are currently ranked fourth in the world and were runners-up in the 2023 World Cup, with France third and Sweden fifth. Ireland are currently ranked 24th.

The top two teams in the group qualify for the tournament in Switzerland, joining a Switzerland side already assured to be there as hosts.

The third and fourth-placed teams will enter the play-offs, along with teams finishing in the top three in each of the four League B groups.

If Switzerland finish in the top three of Group B1, the best-ranked fourth-place team from League B will go into the play-offs.

There will also be five group winners and three best-ranked runners-up from League C, making 28 teams in total, in a two-round play-off system that will start in October and see seven sides advance to the finals.

Ireland last played in France in a 3-0 defeat before the World Cup, and Sweden were in the qualifying group for the Euros, with a 1-0 loss in Tallaght and a draw in Sweden.

England will go into qualfying as reigning champions after defeating Germany in the 2022 final.