Switzerland vs Norway facts

Hosts Switzerland begin their UEFA Women's EURO 2025 journey in Basel with two-time champions Norway their first opponents in Group A.

Switzerland qualified automatically as hosts, while Norway made it through the play-offs to reach their 13th finals.

Previous meetings

Paired together in qualifying for the 1993 and 2001 finals, Norway won all four meetings with 21 goals scored and none conceded.

Switzerland's 2-1 win in a 2016 Olympic Games qualifier in Rotterdam is their only competitive victory against Norway.

The two nations also faced off in Group A of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, playing out a goalless draw in Hamilton on their way to finishing first (Switzerland) and second (Norway).

Norway won 2-1 at home and 1-0 away against Switzerland in Group A2 of the 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League – the most recent meetings between the teams. Elisabeth Terland and Caroline Graham Hansen struck for the home side in Stavanger, Sydney Schertenleib on target for the visitors, while Vilde Bøe Risa scored the only goal of the game in Sion.

 Form guide

Switzerland

Although their finals spot was guaranteed as hosts, Switzerland still took part in qualifying and won five of their six games in topping Group B1 ahead of Türkiye, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

They scored the most goals in their group (14) and conceded the fewest (3). Viola Calligaris struck three times, more than any other Swiss player.

Switzerland are aiming to become the third successive hosts to win the tournament after Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022.

This is Switzerland's third successive finals appearance. Both previous entries have ended in the group stage, their sole win a 2-1 victory over Iceland on debut in 2017.

Switzerland finished third in Group C at the 2022 finals; they drew their opener with Portugal (2-2) but lost to both Sweden (1-2) and Netherlands (1-4).

Their 2023 Women's World Cup participation ended with a 1-5 defeat to eventual champions Spain in the round of 16.

Head coach Pia Sundhage was top scorer in the first-ever tournament in 1984. Then known as the European Competition for Women's Football, Sundhage scored Sweden's winning penalty in the final shoot-out against England.

Norway

Norway lost only one of their qualifying games in Group A1 (W1 D4) but finished third behind Italy and Netherlands. As a result they had to navigate their way through the play-offs, where they recorded a 14-0 aggregate win against Albania (5-0 a, 9-0 h) before a 7-0 aggregate defeat of Northern Ireland (4-0 a, 3-0 h) sealed their finals place.

Frida Maanum struck seven times during qualifying, more than any of her team-mates.

Winners in both 1987 – as hosts – and 1993, Norway have also finished as Women's EURO runner-up on a further four occasions, most recently in 2013.

Ever-presents in the tournaments since their first title in 1987, Norway have reached the semi-finals or better in nine of their previous 12 participations, although they were eliminated in the group stage in both 2017 and 2022.

Norway's 0-8 loss to England in the 2022 group stage is the biggest finals defeat in Women's EURO history, although a 5-3 win against Italy in the 2005 group stage is the joint highest-scoring game.

World champions in 1995 when they beat Germany 2-0 in the final, Norway lost 1-3 to Japan in the round of 16 of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Norway were gold medallists in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, a golden goal from Dagny Mellgren sealing a 3-2 win against the United States in the final.

Norway are led by former Wales coach Gemma Grainger, who has been in post since early 2024.

Key facts

• Switzerland have won only one of their previous six Women's EURO finals matches (D2 L3), a 2-1 victory against Iceland in 2017.

• Switzerland's Matchday 1 record at Women's EURO is D1 L1; they lost 1-0 against Austria on debut in 2017 and drew 2-2 against Portugal in 2022.

• Norway have the most consecutive Women's EURO participations of any nation, with 2025 marking their 13th in a row.

• Norway have lost six of their last seven finals matches (W1), a 4-1 victory against Northern Ireland in their opening match in 2022 the only exception. They failed to score in all six of those defeats.

• Gresshoppene have won their opening match in only one of their last five Women's EURO final tournament appearances.