Women's Euros: Northern Ireland and Republic find out 2025 qualifying opponents
Northern Ireland will face Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malta in the Women's Euro 2025 qualifying group, following today's draw in Switzerland.
Tanya Oxtoby's side, are ranked second highest in the group at 46th, with top seeds Portugal 21st, Bosnia and Herzegovina 64th and Malta 86th.
Meanwhile, Eileen Gleeson will begin her first campaign as permanent manager of the Republic of Ireland with a tough test, with her side drawn in Group A3 alongside reigning Euro champions England, France and Sweden.
As for the other home nations, Scotland meet Serbia, Slovakia and Israel in Group B2, with Wales paired alongside Croatia, Ukraine and Kosovo in Group B4.
In qualifying, as per the league stage of the Nations League, teams will compete over six matchdays between April and July, with each team playing one home match and one away match against all the other teams in their group.
The top two teams in each League A group will gain places in the July 2025 finals alongside hosts Switzerland (who will compete in League B although their automatic qualification is assured). The remaining seven spots will be decided by two rounds of play-offs in October and November/December.
The first round of the play-offs is split into two paths.
In one path, the teams finishing third and fourth in League A will play the five group winners and three best-ranked runners-up in League C. The eight winners progress to the second round.
In the other first round path the four group winners and two best-ranked runners-up in League B will be drawn into six ties against the remaining two runners-up and four third-placed teams in League B. The six winners progress to the second round.
In the second round the teams from both paths come together and will be drawn into seven ties, with seeding for the seven highest-ranked teams based on the European Qualifiers overall league rankings. The seven winners progress to the final tournament.
UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Qualifying Draw
Group A3: France, England, Sweden, Republic of Ireland
Group B2: Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Israel
Group B3: Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Malta
Group B4: Wales, Croatia, Ukraine, Kosovo