Euro 2025 qualifying draw: All you need to know as Northern Ireland await their fate
Northern Ireland will be hoping for a kind draw on International Women's Day
UEFA will mark International Women’s Day with by staging the draw for Euro 2025 at midday in Nyon on Tuesday.
Northern Ireland will be in Pot 3 in League B for the draw, as they aim to qualify for their second European Championships in a row.
In a break from tradition, the qualifying campaign will echo the format of the Nations League meaning that Tanya Oxtoby’s team cannot be draw against the likes of world champions Spain or holders England. As a League B team, Northern Ireland also can’t qualify automatically.
Instead, they must finish in the top three of their four-team group to qualify for the play-offs.
Oxtoby’s team will be paired with one of Portugal, Switzerland, Scotland or Wales from Pot 1. In Pot 2, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Hungary will make the trip to Belfast. Malta, Israel, Kosovo, and Azerbaijan make up Pot 4.
In the league stage, which runs from April to July, teams are split into three leagues based on their UEFA Women's Nations League rankings:
The 16 teams ranked 1st to 16th enter League A.
The 16 teams ranked 17th to 32nd enter League B.
The 19 teams ranked 33rd to 51st enter League C.
Across the three leagues, teams will be split into 13 groups:
League A, containing four groups of four teams.
League B, containing four groups of four teams.
League C, containing four groups of four teams, and one group of three teams.
League A
Pot 1: Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands,
Pot 2: England, Denmark, Italy, Austria
Pot 3: Iceland, Belgium, Sweden, Norway
Pot 4: Republic of Ireland, Finland, Poland, Czechia
League B
Pot 1: Portugal, Switzerland, Scotland, Wales
Pot 2: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia,
Read on belfasttelegraph.co.uk
