Women’s European qualifying play-offs: second round draw after return leg drama | Women’s European Qualifier

The second round of Women’s European Qualifying play-offs were scheduled on Tuesday after 14 teams exited the opening stage in the battle for the last seven places in the Women’s EURO 2025 final, which will take place in Switzerland from July 2 to 27 next year.

Northern Ireland, who scored a last-gasp equalizer in the first leg against Croatia, won the return leg 1-0 with a Lauren Wade goal in the 114th minute. They now face a rematch with their 2022 finals opponents Norway, against whom Frida Maanum scored four goals to top Albania.

Two teams needed extra time. Wales, who lost the first leg 2-1 in Croatia and pulled just one goal back late, forced an extra half-hour in Cardiff this evening before Keri Holland proved herself the hero in the 112th minute. They now face another team aiming for a EURO debut – Ireland, who won both matches against Georgia.

Two penalties in her 150th cap for Sarah Puntigam helped Austria beat Slovenia 2-1 on the night and 5-1 overall. Poland will face Austria after Eva Pajor scored twice in a 4-1 win over Romania and added her 89th-minute penalty to her triumphant away comeback that took her to 60 international goals.

Belgium won the first leg in Greece 0-0 on Friday but won the return leg 5-0 and will now take on Ukraine, who themselves drew in Turkey before winning 2-0 at home. Sweden, which defeated Luxembourg, now plays Serbia, who, after leveling 2-2 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, won the return leg 4-1 at home.

Finland only led 1-0 away in Montenegro but won 5-0 tonight and now face Scotland, who followed up a 1-0 away win in Hungary with a 4-0 home win. The Czech Republic drew 0-0 at home to Belarus but led 8-1 in the first match and faced Portugal, who knocked out Azerbaijan.

The second round, which has already been drawn, will be played from November 27 to December 3, with dates to be confirmed once ties have been decided. The seven second-round winners will join hosts Switzerland and direct qualifiers Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain in the finals draw on December 16 in Lausanne.

Draws in playoffs

All knockouts in Central European Time

Round 1

Return matches: Tuesday, October 29.

Czech Republic – Belarus 0:0 (general 8-1)
Ukraine – Türkiye 2:0 (general 3-1)
Finland – Montenegro 5:0 (overall 6-0)
Poland – Romania 4:1 (total: 6-2)
Austria – Slovenia 2:1 (total score: 5-1)
Sweden – Luxembourg 8:0 (total 12-0)
Norway – Albania 9:0 (overall 14-0)
Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina 4:1 (general 6-3)
Northern Ireland 1-0 Croatia (add., total: 2-1)
Belgium – Greece 5:0 (overall 5-0)
Wales 2-0 Slovakia (add., total: 3-2)
Ireland – Georgia 3:0 (total 9-0)
Scotland 4-0 Hungary (overall 5-0)
Portugal – Azerbaijan 4:0 (general 8-1)

First matches: Friday, October 25.

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Serbia 2:2
Azerbaijan – Portugal 1:4
Albania – Norway 0:5
Montenegro – Finland 0:1
Türkiye – Ukraine 1-1
Slovakia 2-1 Wales
Romania – Poland 1:2
Greece – Belgium 0:0
Georgia – Ireland 0:6
Slovenia – Austria 0:3
Hungary – Scotland 0:1
Croatia 1-1 Northern Ireland
Luxembourg – Sweden 0:4
Belarus – Czech Republic 1-8

Team Guide: Round 2

• Norway (1987 and 1993) and Sweden (1984) are former winners. No team has failed to qualify since the introduction of the group stage in 1997.
• In 2022, Sweden was a semi-finalist, with Austria and Belgium in the last eight. Finland, Northern Ireland, Norway and Portugal also played in England. Norway beat Northern Ireland in the 2022 group stage and also twice in qualifying.
• Scotland (2017) and Ukraine (2009) also qualified.
• The Republic of Ireland competed in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup but never qualified for the Women’s EURO, losing out in the 2009 play-offs (meaning either Wales or Ireland will definitely make their debut in Switzerland).
• The Czech Republic and Ukraine missed out on the 2022 playoffs.

Which first round draw was which way?

The first round of the playoffs was divided into two stages.

Path 1

Path 1 saw the third and fourth placed teams in League A face the five group winners and the top three runners-up in League C.

This path provided the seven seeds for the second round draw, with draws involving the seven highest ranked teams based on results Overall European Qualifying League Ranking.

Romania vs Poland
Greece vs Belgium
Montenegro vs Finland
Georgia v Republic of Ireland
Slovenia vs Austria
Luxembourg vs Sweden
Belarus vs Czech Republic
Albania vs Norway

Path 2

Route 2 featured the top three teams from each League B group. With Switzerland finishing as League B winners, the fourth-ranked League B team (Azerbaijan) completed the Stage 2 1st Round playoff lineup, and The six-match seeding draw has been adjusted accordingly.

Three group winners (except Switzerland) and three best in rating The League B runners-up played six matches against the remaining playoff contenders from League B.

Türkiye vs Ukraine
Croatia vs Northern Ireland
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Serbia
Azerbaijan vs Portugal
Hungary vs Scotland
Slovakia vs Wales