Guide To Women's EURO 2022
Where will the Women's EURO 2022 finals be played?
The 13th edition of the UEFA Women's EURO will be played in England from 6 to 31 July 2022.
England are hosting the tournament for the second time since 2005.
Format
The 16 sides were drawn into four groups of four, with the top two in each section progressing to the knockout phase.
Groups
Group A: England (hosts), Austria, Norway, Northern Ireland
Group B: Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland
Group C: Netherlands (holders), Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland
*Portugal replace Russia
Group D: France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland
Standout Group matches
Netherlands v Sweden - 09 July
England vs Norway - 11 July
Germany v Spain - 12 July
France v Italy - 14 July
Denmark v Spain - 16 July
For the full tournament schedule, check Forza Football.
2022 UEFA Women's EURO venues
Manchester (Old Trafford – opening game)
Milton Keynes (Stadium MK)
Manchester (Manchester City Academy Stadium)
Brighton & Hove (Brighton & Hove Community Stadium)
Wigan & Leigh (Leigh Sports Village)
Rotherham (New York Stadium)
Sheffield (Bramall Lane)
London (Brentford Community Stadium & Wembley Stadium – final only)
Southampton (St Mary's Stadium)
Who has won the most Women’s EURO titles?
The tournament was first held in 1984 when Sweden won it. Germany have won the most titles with eight, five of which were consecutive until 2017, when the Netherlands won it. Germany also have the most final appearances with eight and are tied with Norway on most semi-final appearances with nine.
Norway is the second most successful side with two EURO titles and are second on most final appearances with six. They are tied with Germany on most semi-final appearances with nine.
Previous winners :
Germany x 8 (1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013)
Norway x 2 (1987, 1993)
Netherlands (2017)
Sweden (1984)
2022 Favourites
Spain
The famed many successes of Barcelona and the fact that a high proportion of players in the Spanish fold come from Barcelona means that Spain will be among the favourites to win this year’s Women’s EUROs.
This fact might not necessarily make Spain — who have reached the semi-finals of a major tournament only once in history — win the EUROs, but it will go a long way in defining how they perform at the tournament.
The midfield trio of Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijaro and Aitana Bonmati is the most technically capable in the women’s game. Coupled with the astute centre-back pairing of Irene Paredes and Mapi León, Spain will no doubt seriously contend for the championship.
Netherlands
The defending champions Netherlands are strong championship contenders at this year’s Women’s EUROs. This is because they are, one, defending the title, and two, have shown more prowess having reached the world cup final in 2019.
On top of that, the presence of Vivianne Miedema, Lieke Martens and Jill Roord means they will never lack the all-crucial attacking flair.
However, Netherlands have lost their 2017 Women’s EUROs winning coach Sarina Wiegman, who has gone to take charge of England women’s national team. This might work against them as England are also favourites to win the championship.
England
England have many odds in their favour as far as the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 is concerned. To begin with, being hosts of the tournament themselves increases the anticipation around them as favourites of this year’s Women’s EURO championship.
Secondly, the appointment of UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 winning manager and 2019 Women’s World Cup finalist Sarina Wiegman in September last year has also enhanced their chances of succeeding at this year’s championship.
On the other hand, the presence of stars such as Beth Mead, Ellen White, Alessia Russo, Nikita Parris and Lauren Hemp upfront, Leah Williamson, Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh in midfield and Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Rachel Daly, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Demi Stokes in defence makes the Lionesses qualify as definite favourites.
France
Although France have failed to reach a semi-final since the 2011 Women’s World Cup, they are a team to watch at this edition of the Women’s EUROs.
And although coach Corinne Diacre has excluded Lyon players Eugénie Le Sommer and Amandine Henry from her squad, despite Henry winning player-of-the-match award in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) final, the presence of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Sandy Baltimore and Kadidiatou Diani will make the French scary to any opponent.
Germany
Write off Germany at your own peril! The team with the most Women’s EURO titles will be out for war again this year.
Their squad is quite young and robust and boasts of the likes of Lea Schüller, Lena Oberdorf and Klara Bühl. It also has experienced players such as Almuth Schult, Alexandra Popp and Sara Däbritz which makes it one of the most dynamic squads at this edition of the Women’s EUROs.
Sweden
This could be a special year for Sweden who last won a major tournament in 1984. They have two Olympic silver medals and a 2019 Women’s World Cup bronze medal to prove it.
They have a great squad which comprises of legends such as Hedvig Lindahl and Caroline Seger as well as seasoned players such as Magdalena Eriksson and hotshots such as Fridolina Rolfö, Kosovare Asllani, Stina Blackstenius and Lina Hurtig.
Norway
With players such as Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Engen and Guro Reiten, you can rule out Norway at your own peril. The addition of star striker Ada Hergerberg turns Norway into instant favourites.
15 Players to watch
Ada Hegerberg — Norway
Norway received a big boost when the 26-year-old Lyon forward was named in the EURO 23-player squad after a five-year absence.
Hergerberg scored 10 goals in 16 appearances for Lyon in the D1 Arkema in the just concluded season and scored six goals in 10 appearances for them in their glorious UWCL campaign.
She scored a hattrick against Kosovo on her return to international fold back in April, just a few months ahead of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.
Caroline Graham Hansen — Norway
The 27-year-old Barcelona midfielder-cum-forward is one of the most feared in the game and her presence in the Norway fold will definitely increase their chances of succeeding at this year’s Women’s EURO finals.
Nicole Billa – Austria
The Hoffenheim forward is definitely another one to watch at this edition of the UEFA Women’s EUROs. She scored 12 goals in 21 matches for her club to finish as joint-third top scorer in the recently ended Frauen-Bundesliga campaign. She also scored three goals in six appearances for her side in the UWCL.
Beth Mead – England
The 27-year-old star has steadily grown to be a formidable forward for both Arsenal and England. She bagged 11 goals in 22 appearances for her club in the recently ended Barclays Women’s Super League season.
Demi Vance — Northern Ireland
The Rangers midfielder brings in a lot of experience for Northern Ireland in what is her first and could be her last Women’s EURO tournament. Vance is also basking in the glory of having helped her club to a Scottish Women’s Premier League title last season.
Lea Schüller — Germany
The 24-year-old Bayern Munich forward is certainly among those to watch at this edition of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. Schuller was top scorer in the recently concluded Frauen-Bundesliga campaign with 16 goals. She also scored four goals in seven appearances for Bayern Munich in their ill-fated UWCL campaign.
Alexia Putellas – Spain
The 2021 Ballon d’Or winner will be in the eyes of many at this edition of the UEFA Women’s EUROs. Having lost the UWCL title to Lyon back in May, the 28-year-old Barcelona captain will be out for recompense in her quest to retain the Ballon d’Or.
Vivianne Miedema – Netherlands
One of the Women’s EURO 2022’s must watch players is the 25-year-old Arsenal goal machine. With holders Netherlands seeking to defend the title, Miedema will be called upon to produce her magic which has seen her scoring 92 international goals in 108 games.
Last season, she scored 14 goals in 22 appearances for Arsenal in the league, racking up eight assists in the process.
Stina Blackstenius – Sweden
Another jem to watch is Arsenal’s super forward Stina Blackstenius who has been in top form heading into the tournament, having scored six goals in 11 games since her January move to North London.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto – France
The Paris Saint-Germain free-scoring forward will no doubt play a key role for France at this edition of the Women’s EURO title. Katoto racked up 18 goals in 21 appearances in D1 Arkema last season and was the league's top scorer and also scored seven goals in seven appearances for PSG in the UWCL.
Cristiana Girelli - Italy
Le Azzurre’s 31-year-old star gunslinger, who has been scoring goals on end for over a decade, will be looking to leave a mark at what could be her last Women’s EURO campaign.
Ramona Bachmann - Switzerland
Switzerland and PSG striker Ramona Bachmann, who has an amazing game-controlling prowess, will be an integral part of the Swiss squad at this edition of the Women’s EUROs.
Tabea Waßmuth - Germany
The VfL Wolfsburg fun-scoring forward will be out to cause maximum damage. She was last season’s joint-second top scorer in the Frauen-Bundesliga with 13 goals.
Pernille Harder - Denmark
Pernille Harder, the world's most expensive female footballer, is definitely a UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 must-watch. Having been nominated three times for the Ballon d'Or, Harder will be looking to secure a major championship such as the Women’s EURO to better her chances at the next Ballon d’Or.
Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir - Iceland
Being Iceland’s reigning Women’s Footballer of the Year at just 20 years of age — wrestling the accolade from Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir who had won it for the previous five years in a row — the VfL Wolfsburg midfielder will be out for war at this edition of the Women’s EUROs.
Prize Money
The total prize money on offer for UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 will total €16m, double the €8m which was available at Women’s EURO in 2017.
There will be two criteria for the distribution of the money: Equal distribution (60%) and tournament performance (40%).
60% of the prize money, which is €9.6 million, will be distributed equally among all the 16 contestants regardless of their performance in the final tournament whilst 40% of the prize money, which is €6.4 million, will be distributed in accordance with teams’ performance in the group stages and the knockout rounds. Knockout rounds earnings will account for two thirds of the 40%.
The 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro champions will receive €660,000 whilst the runners-up will receive €420,000. If the champions win all their group stage matches, they will receive a total of €2,085,000.
All the 16 teams which are participating at the Women’s Euro 2022 will receive a guaranteed minimum payment of €600,000.
Performance bonuses have been introduced in the group stage for the first time at a UEFA women’s national team competition which will see teams earning €100,000 for a win and €50,000 for a draw.
Teams will receive an additional €205,000 for reaching the quarter-finals and €320,000 for reaching the semi-finals.
In addition, UEFA has introduced a ‘club benefits programme’ which will see clubs being rewarded for releasing players to their national teams for the Women’s EURO. This arrangement has already been in place since 2008 for the Men’s EURO.
The club benefits programme for the Women’s EURO will amount to €4.5 million. The total amount paid to a club will be calculated in accordance with the number of days that a player is released for the tournament. This will cover 10 preparation days, the number of days which a player participates in the tournament plus one additional travel day.
Entitled clubs will be paid at a rate of €500 per player per day and payments will be made during the period between October and December this year. A club is guaranteed a minimum payment of €10,000 for each of its players taking part in the Women’s EURO.
How to follow the tournament
Covering more than 60 women's football tournaments with live scores, lineups, push notifications, video highlights, TV schedules and player profiles, the Forza Football App is the best place to follow the UEFA Women’s Euro Championship.