Why are holders England in Pot 2 of Euro 2025 draw?
Share:
England’s seeding for the tournament is based on their results in qualifying. England may be reigning European champions and ranked fourth in the world, but the Lionesses are in Pot 2 of this afternoon’s Euro 2025 draw ahead of their tournament defence next summer.
![[The Lionesses thrashed Scotland 6-0 but finished second to the Netherlands]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/16/13/GettyImages-1835446368.jpg)
Sarina Wiegman’s side will face either Switzerland or one of the best teams in the world in the group stage, with Spain, Germany and France all joining the hosts in Pot 1. Switzerland are among the top seeds for the 16-team tournament as they are the host nation and must be placed in position A1 - just as England were when the Lionesses hosted Euro 2022.
![[England reached Euro 2025 ahead of Sweden after a 0-0 draw secured their place]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/16/13/GettyImages-2162305319.jpg)
That means England could face a big-hitter in the group stages, with world champions Spain (2nd) and Euros runners-up Germany (3rd) positioned above the Lionesses in the Fifa world rankings. After winning the Euros in 2022 and reaching the Women’s World Cup final in 2023, the Lionesses have had a mixed spell in terms of results that has led to their position in Pot 2 of qualifying for Euro 2025.
It traces back to the inaugural Women’s Nations League campaign in the autumn of 2023, which followed England’s efforts in reaching the Women’s World Cup final in Australia. Sarina Wiegman’s side felt the effects of a World Cup hangover and defeats to the Netherlands and Belgium away from home proved costly as the Lionesses finished second to the Dutch.
