UEFA Women's Championship
Organising bodyUEFA
Founded1982 (1982)
RegionEurope
Number of teams16 (finals)
52 (qualifiers)
Qualifier forUEFA–CONMEBOL Women's Finalissima
Current champions England (1st title)
Most successful team(s) Germany (8 titles)
WebsiteOfficial website
UEFA Women's Euro 2025

The UEFA European Women's Championship, also called the UEFA Women's Euro, held every four years and one year after the men’s UEFA European Championship first held in 1984, is the main competition in women's association football between national teams of the UEFA confederation. The competition is the women's equivalent of the UEFA European Championship. The reigning champions are England, who won their home tournament in 2022. The most successful nation in the history of the tournament is Germany, with eight titles.

History

[1] In 1957 in West Berlin, a European Championship was staged by the International Ladies Football Association.[2][3] Four teams, representing West Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and the eventual winners, England, played the tournament at the Poststadion,[2][3] at a time when women's football teams were officially forbidden by the German Football Association, a ban that was widely defied.[4]

The FICF, which eventually merged into the Italian Football Federation, organised a European tournament in Italy in 1969 for women's national teams, a tournament won by the home team, Italy, who beat Denmark 3–1 in the final.[5] The two nations were also the finalists of the 1970 Women's World Cup in Italy.

Italy hosted another European women's tournament a decade later, the 1979 European Competition for Women's Football – won by Denmark.[6]

UEFA displayed little enthusiasm for women's football and were particularly hostile to Italy's independent women's football federation. Sue Lopez, a member of England's squad, contended that a lack of female representation in UEFA was a contributory factor:[7]

In 1971, UEFA had set up a committee for women's football, composed exclusively of male representatives, and by the time this committee folded in 1978 they had failed to organise any international competitions.[7]

At a conference on 19 February 1980 UEFA resolved to launch its own competition for women's national teams.[8] The meeting minutes had registered the 1979 competition as a "cause for concern".[9] The first UEFA-run international tournament began only in 1982, when the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualification was launched. The 1984 Finals were won by Sweden. Norway won the 1987 Finals. Since then, the UEFA Women's Championship has been dominated by Germany, which has won eight out of ten events. Norway won in 1993 and the Netherlands in 2017. Germany's 2013 win had been their sixth in a row. In 2022, England won UEFA Women's Euro 2022, becoming the country's first senior association football team of either gender to win a major tournament since the men's team won the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

From 1984 to 1995, the tournament was initially played as a four-team event. The 1997 edition was the first that was played with eight teams, followed by the 2001 and 2005 editions. The third expansion happened between 2009 and 2013 when 12 teams participated. From 2017 onwards 16 teams compete for the championship.[10]

The first three tournaments of the UEFA competition in the 1980s had the name "European Competition for Representative Women's Teams". With UEFA's increasing acceptance of women's football, this competition was given European Championship status by UEFA around 1990.[11] Only the 1991 and 1995 editions have been used as European qualifiers for a FIFA Women's World Cup; starting in 1999, women's national teams adopted the separate World Cup qualifying competition and group system used in men's qualifiers.

Results

Editions Years Hosts Finals Third place playoff or losing semi-finalists Number of teams
Winners Scores Runners-up Third place Score Fourth place
1 1984 England Italy Denmark Sweden

No official host
Sweden		 1–0
0–1
(4–3 p)
England		  Denmark and  Italy 4
2 1987  Norway
Norway		 2–1
Sweden
Italy		 2–1
England		 4
3 1989  West Germany
West Germany		 4–1
Norway
Sweden		 2–1 (a.e.t.)
Italy		 4
4 1991  Denmark
Germany		 3–1 (a.e.t.)
Norway
Denmark		 2–1 (a.e.t.)
Italy		 4
5 1993  Italy
Norway		 1–0
Italy
Denmark		 3–1
Germany		 4
6 1995 England Germany Norway Sweden

No official host
Germany		 3–2
Sweden		  England and  Norway 4
7 1997  Norway
 Sweden
Germany		 2–0
Italy		  Spain and  Sweden 8
8 2001  Germany
Germany		 1–0 (g.g.)
Sweden		  Denmark and  Norway 8
9 2005  England
Germany		 3–1
Norway		  Finland and  Sweden 8
10 2009  Finland
Germany		 6–2
England		  Netherlands and  Norway 12
11 2013  Sweden
Germany		 1–0
Norway		  Denmark and  Sweden 12
12 2017  Netherlands
Netherlands		 4–2
Denmark		  Austria and  England 16
13 2022  England
England		 2–1 (a.e.t.)
Germany		  France and  Sweden 16
14 2025   Switzerland 16

Summary

Team Winners Runners-up
 Germany1 8 (1989*, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001*, 2005, 2009, 2013) 1 (2022)
 Norway 2 (1987*, 1993) 4 (1989, 1991, 2005, 2013)
 Sweden 1 (1984) 3 (1987, 1995, 2001)
 England 1 (2022*) 2 (1984, 2009)
 Netherlands 1 (2017*) —
 Italy — 2 (1993*, 1997)
 Denmark — 1 (2017)
* hosts
1 named West Germany until 1990

Medal table

In the 1987, 1989, 1991 and 1993 tournaments there was a third place playoff. Since 1995, both losing semi-finalists are counted as bronze. Only Norway and Germany have won multiple titles.

RankTeamGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Germany8109
2 Norway2439
3 Sweden1359
4 England1225
5 Netherlands1012
6 Italy0224
7 Denmark0156
8 Austria0011
 Finland0011
 France0011
 Spain0011
Totals (11 entries)13132248

Debut of teams

Players fighting for the ball during the match between Germany and Norway in UEFA Euro 2009 Women's European Championship in Tampere, Finland.
Reception of Germany women's national football team, after winning the 2009 UEFA Women's Championship, on the balcony of Frankfurt's city hall "Römer"
Year Debuting teams Successor teams
Teams No. CT
1984  Denmark,  England,  Italy,  Sweden 4 4
1987  Norway 1 5
1989  West Germany 1 6
1991 0 6  Germany
1993 0 6
1995 0 6
1997  France,  Russia,  Spain 3 9
2001 0 9
2005  Finland 1 10
2009  Iceland,  Netherlands,  Ukraine 3 13
2013 0 13
2017  Austria,  Belgium,  Portugal,  Scotland,  Switzerland 5 18
2022  Northern Ireland 1 19
2025

Overall team records

In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws. Teams are ranked by total points, then by goal difference, then by goals scored.

As of UEFA Women's Euro 2022, 31 July 2022
RankTeamPartMWDLGFGAGDPoints
1 Germany[lower-alpha 1]1146366410727+80114
2 Sweden1142226147247+2572
3 Norway1239167165158−755
4 England934173146253+954
5 France72611873934+541
6 Denmark1033108153346−1338
7 Netherlands41810352715+1233
8 Italy123587203863−2531
9 Spain4165381619−318
10 Austria2943284+415
11 Finland4143381227−1512
12 Belgium2721467−17
13 Iceland413148722−157
14 Russia51513111031−216
15 Switzerland26123711−45
16 Portugal26114715−84
17 Ukraine1310224−23
18 Scotland1310228−63
19 Northern Ireland13003111−100

Team results by tournament

Legend

  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place (not determined after 1993)
  • 4th – Fourth place (not determined after 1993)
  • SF – Semi-finals (since 1995)
  • QF – Quarter-finals (since 2009)
  • GS – Group stage
  • Q – Qualified for upcoming tournament
  •  •  – Did not qualify
  •  ×  – Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned
  •    – Hosts

For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.

Team 1984
(4)		 1987
Norway
(4)		 1989
West Germany
(4)		 1991
Denmark
(4)		 1993
Italy
(4)		 1995
(4)		 1997
Norway
Sweden
(8)		 2001
Germany
(8)		 2005
England
(8)		 2009
Finland
(12)		 2013
Sweden
(12)		 2017
Netherlands
(16)		 2022
England
(16)		 2025
Switzerland
(16)		 Total
 Austria × × × × × × • • • • • SF QF 2
 Belgium • • • • • • • • • • • GS QF 2
 Denmark SF • • 3rd 3rd • GS SF GS GS SF 2nd GS 10
 England 2nd 4th • • • SF • GS GS 2nd GS SF 1st 9
 Finland • • • • • • • • SF QF GS • GS 4
 France • • • • • • GS GS GS QF QF QF SF 7
 Germany • • 1st 1st 4th 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st QF 2nd 11
 Iceland • × × × • • • • • GS QF GS GS 4
 Italy SF 3rd 4th 4th 2nd • 2nd GS GS QF QF GS GS 12
 Netherlands • • • • • • • • • SF GS 1st QF 4
 Northern Ireland • • × • × × × × × • • • GS 1
 Norway • 1st 2nd 2nd 1st SF GS SF 2nd SF 2nd GS GS 12
 Portugal • • • • • • • • • • • GS GS 2
 Russia Part of  Soviet Union • • GS GS • GS GS GS × 5
 Scotland • • • × • • • • • • • GS • 1
 Spain × • • • • • SF • • • QF QF QF 4
 Sweden 1st 2nd 3rd • • 2nd SF 2nd SF QF SF QF SF 11
 Switzerland • • • • • • • • • • • GS GS Q 3
 Ukraine Part of  Soviet Union × • • • • GS • • • 1

Notes:

  • The  Soviet Union team was created only 1990 and did not participate in continental competitions.
  • The  East Germany team was created only 1990 and did not participate in continental competitions.
  • Most of the countries of the "Eastern Bloc" ("Socialist camp") did not field their women teams.

Hosts

Results of host nations
Year Host Nation Finish
1984 No fixed host n/a
1987  Norway Champions
1989  West Germany Champions
1991  Denmark Third Place
1993  Italy Runners-up
1995 No fixed host n/a
1997  Norway Group Stage
 Sweden Semi-final
2001  Germany Champions
2005  England Group Stage
2009  Finland Quarter-Final
2013  Sweden Semi-final
2017  Netherlands Champions
2022  England Champions
2025  Switzerland To be determined

Results of defending finalists

Year Defending champions Finish Defending runners-up Finish
1984  Sweden Runners-up  England Fourth Place
1987  Norway Runners-up  Sweden Third Place
1989  Germany Champions  Norway Runners-up
1991  Germany Fourth Place  Norway Champions
1993  Norway Semi-final  Italy Did not qualify
1995  Germany Champions  Sweden Semi-final
1997  Germany Champions  Italy Group Stage
2001  Germany Champions  Sweden Semi-final
2005  Germany Champions  Norway Semi-final
2009  Germany Champions  England Group Stage
2013  Germany Quarter-Final  Norway Group Stage
2017  Netherlands Quarter-Final  Denmark Group Stage
2022  England Champions  Germany To be determined

Tournament statistics

All-time top scorers

Rank Name Euro Total
1984 Norway
1987		 West Germany
1989		 Denmark
1991		 Italy
1993		 1995 Norway
Sweden
1997		 Germany
2001		 England
2005		 Finland
2009		 Sweden
2013		 Netherlands
2017		 England
2022
1 Germany Inka Grings 4 6 10
Germany Birgit Prinz 2 2 1 3 2 10
3 Italy Carolina Morace 2 1 0 0 1 4 8
Germany Heidi Mohr 1 4 1 2 8
Sweden Lotta Schelin 0 1 5 2 8
6 Sweden Hanna Ljungberg 1 2 3 6
England Beth Mead 6 6
Germany Alexandra Popp 6 6
9 Italy Melania Gabbiadini 2 1 2 0 5
Norway Solveig Gulbrandsen 0 3 0 2 5
Germany Maren Meinert 1 1 1 2 5
Italy Patrizia Panico 1 2 0 2 0 5
Sweden Pia Sundhage 4 0 1 0 5
England Jodie Taylor 5 5
Sweden Lena Videkull 0 1 1 3 5
Germany Bettina Wiegmann 0 0 2 1 2 5

Top scorers by tournament

Year Player Maximum
matches		 Goals
1984 Sweden Pia Sundhage 4 4
1987 Norway Trude Stendal 2 3
1989 Norway Sissel Grude
West Germany Ursula Lohn		 2 2
1991 Germany Heidi Mohr 2 4
1993 Denmark Susan Mackensie 2 2
1995 Sweden Lena Videkull 3 3
1997 Italy Carolina Morace
Norway Marianne Pettersen
France Angélique Roujas		 5 4
2001 Germany Claudia Müller
Germany Sandra Smisek		 5 3
2005 Germany Inka Grings 5 4
2009 Germany Inka Grings 6 6
2013 Sweden Lotta Schelin 6 5
2017 England Jodie Taylor 6 5
2022 England Beth Mead
Germany Alexandra Popp		 6 6

UEFA.com Golden Player by tournament

Year Player
1984 Sweden Pia Sundhage
1987 Norway Heidi Støre
1989 West Germany Doris Fitschen
1991 Germany Silvia Neid
1993 Norway Hege Riise
1995 Germany Birgit Prinz
1997 Italy Carolina Morace
2001 Sweden Hanna Ljungberg
2005 Finland Anne Mäkinen
2009 Germany Inka Grings
2013 Germany Nadine Angerer1
2017 Netherlands Lieke Martens1
2022 England Beth Mead1

1Official player of the tournament since 2013

Highest attendances

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to UEFA Women's Championship.

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes participations as  West Germany from 1989–1990; see below.

References

  1. ↑ Skillen, Fiona; Byrne, Helena; Carrier, John; James, Gary (27 Jan 2022). "A comparative analysis of the 1921 English Football Association ban on women's football in Britain and Ireland". Sport in History. 42 (1): 49–75. doi:10.1080/17460263.2021.2025415. S2CID 246409158.
  2. 1 2 "Damenfußball in der Verbotszeit [Ladies' football in the banned era]". BPB. 4 Sep 2007. Archived from the original on 18 Feb 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Women's european football championship scene from match germany (GFR) against England in Berlin (West-Berlin) . final result 0:4 05.Nov. 1957". Getty Images.
  4. ↑ "Frauenfußball-Verbot 1955 [Women's football ban 1955]". Deutschlandfunk. 30 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Coppa Europa per Nazioni (Women) 1969". Rsssf.com. 19 March 2001. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979". Rsssf.com. 15 October 2000. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  7. 1 2 Lopez, Sue (1997). Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women's Football. London, England: Scarlet Press. p. 99. ISBN 1857270169.
  8. ↑ "2013 Uefa Women's Competitions" (PDF). UEFA. August 2013. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Williams, Jean (2007). A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football. Berg Publishers. p. 30. ISBN 978-1845206758.
  10. ↑ "Women's EURO and U17s expanded". UEFA. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  11. ↑ Schlenker, Anika Leslie-Walker, Marisa (2020-07-08). "Four decades of UEFA Women's Championships "come home"". Football Makes History. Retrieved 2023-11-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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