Denmark, Olympic runners-up Sweden and Wales will be the opponents of Italy women's team in the second UEFA Women's Nations League round. This is the outcome of the draw held today in Nyon under the watchful eye of coach Andrea Soncin. The Azzurre - just like last year - were placed in Group 4 of League A, the one reserved for the selections with the highest ranking.

'It is a high-level group, as always happens with the new formula of the competition,’ said Soncin. ’We will face three very different teams: we know Sweden well, having already faced them twice, Denmark, after a small downturn, is returning to its levels thanks to strong players with great international experience, many of whom play in Italy, while Wales is a physical team with many girls who play in the English league. In the last year we have shown that we can win against all opponents, so we will face this challenge with great confidence.'

The group stage of the competition - scheduled to run from February to June 2025 - will determine the four teams that will reach the Finals and also the promotions and relegations between the leagues ahead of the European qualifiers for the next World Cup, to be held in the summer of 2027 in Brazil.

OPPONENTS. Two of the three rivals in Group 4 precede Italy in the FIFA Ranking. On one side Sweden, fifth in the world rankings, and on the other Denmark, who have risen to twelfth place after a brief disappointing period coinciding with their unfortunate run in the 2023 World Cup. The Azzurre have already faced the yellow-and-blue selection in the first edition of the Nations League, losing the first leg 1-0 and drawing the return leg in Malmö, with the Scandinavians finding equaliser at the last minute. The precedents smile on the Swedes, who have prevailed in 17 of the 27 clashes (the last Azzurre success dates back to 2018).

There are also 27 previous matches with Denmark, who were beaten on six occasions, including the last match two years ago in the Algarve Cup. The opposite is true for Wales, 29th in the FIFA Ranking, who have lost the three matches in which they have faced Italy (1978, 2018 and 2019).

League A. Each team will play against each other both home and away. The top two teams in every group will remain in League A for the European Qualifiers for the next edition of the World Cup. The four third-placed teams will play off against the second-placed teams in each group of League B. The winners of each tie will play in League A for the European Qualifiers phase; the defeated teams will play in League B. The fourth-placed teams will be relegated to League B. The four League A group winners will contest the UEFA Nations League finals, which will be played as two-legged games, with two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and a final.

 

THE GROUPS OF LEAGUE A

 

Group 1: Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Scotland

Group 2: France, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland

Group 3: Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal

Group 4: Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Wales

 

2025 UEFA Nations League calendar

League stage

Draw: 7 November 2024, 13:00 CET, Nyon
Matchdays 1 & 2: Between 19 and 26 February 2025
Matchdays 3 & 4: Between 2 and 8 April 2025
Matchdays 5 & 6: Between 28 May and 3 June 2025

Finals

Draw: 6 June 2025, Nyon (date TBC)
Semi-finals (two legs): Between 22 and 28 October 2025
Final/third-place play-off (two legs): Between 26 November and 2 December 2025

Promotion/relegation play-offs

Draw: 6 June 2025, Nyon (date TBC)
Matches (two legs): Between 22 and 28 October 2025