England Women will meet France, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in a tantalising group for the qualifying phase for Euro 2025.
The Lionesses aim to advance to next summer's tournament in Switzerland as defending champions from Euro 2022, defeating Germany in extra time during a dramatic Wembley final two years ago to end the nation's 56-year wait for another senior honour.
Owing to their failure to qualify for the UEFA Nations League finals, Sarina Wiegman's side were placed in Pot 2 of the League A draw and entered Group B, where heavyweights France await.
England lost to Les Bleus on penalties in the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup, six years before earning revenge in the last eight of the 2017 European Championships thanks to a Jodie Taylor winner.
A fascinating reunion with Sweden - whom they thrashed 4-0 in the Euro 2022 semi-finals after suffering heartache in the 2019 World Cup third-placed playoff - also awaits, as does a double-header with Ireland, who have never qualified for the Women's Euros.
© Reuters
The rest of the home nations were involved in the League B draw, where Scotland were placed in Group 2 with Serbia, Slovakia and Israel, while Wales face Ukraine, Croatia and Kosovo in Group 4.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland have clashes with Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Malta to look forward to in Group 3, and hosts Switzerland are against Hungary, Turkey and Azerbaijan in Group 1.
The top two teams in the four League A groups will advance straight to the final tournament, while the third and fourth-placed teams in the top tier will compete in the playoffs alongside each of the top three teams in all of the League B groups.
The four teams to finish last in the League B sections could still reach the playoffs based on their ranking and the performance of hosts Switzerland, while only the five League C winners are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, where three second-placed nations will join them.
Qualification for Euro 2025 commences with the first matchday on April 3, and the Finals will take place from July 2 to 27 next year.
WOMEN'S EURO 2025 QUALIFYING DRAW IN FULL
League A Group 1: Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Finland
League A Group 2: Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic
League A Group 3: France, England, Sweden, Republic of Ireland
League A Group 4: Germany, Austria, Iceland, Poland
League B Group 1: Switzerland, Hungary, Turkey, Azerbaijan
League B Group 2: Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Israel
League B Group 3: Portugal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Malta
League B Group 4: Wales, Croatia, Ukraine, Kosovo
League C Group 1: Belarus, Lithuania, Cyprus, Georgia
League C Group 2: Slovenia, Latvia, North Macedonia, Moldova
League C Group 3: Greece, Montenegro, Andorra, Faroe Islands
League C Group 4: Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Armenia
League C Group 5: Albania, Estonia, Luxembourg
Ben Knapton
