UEFA announced on Monday that it will award $43 million in prize money for next year’s Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, a 156% increase on the amount handed out at the previous edition of the tournament in 2022.
Teams are guaranteed $1.89 million for participating in the competition, while the eventual champion will earn a maximum of $5.36 million. Clubs will also receive a collective $6.31 million in benefits for releasing participating players, while for the first time these players will be guaranteed 30% to 40% of the prize money.
The increased prize pool comes amid the rapid growth of women’s football in Europe and around the world, with the 2022 Women’s European Championship setting attendance and viewership records in hosts England and across the continent. The announcement also follows UEFA’s pledge in October to invest $1.08 billion in women’s sport over the next six years to boost the growth of the sport, including participation levels and the number of professional opportunities.
However, the prize money for the 2025 Women’s European Championship still falls far short of the amount that UEFA handed out last summer for the men’s equivalent organized in Germany. The confederation awarded nearly $348 million to teams this year, while champion Spain won $8.41 million.
UEFA announced the prize money shortly before the Women’s European Championship draw in Lausanne, Switzerland. They also revealed the name of the Women’s European Cup, a secondary club competition similar to the men’s Europa League. The competition will start next season and will be a two-legged, direct knockout competition.
Eurogroups Women 2025
Reigning European champions England were drawn into the most competitive group at next summer’s tournament and will face 2017 champions Netherlands, regional heavyweight France and neighbors Wales, one of two debut teams in the competition. World Cup winner Spain, meanwhile, received a favorable draw, while the same applied to host country Switzerland, which will face two-time Euro winner Norway in the opening match on June 2.
Here’s the full group stage draw.
Group A
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Norway
- Finland
Group B
- Spain
- Italy
- Belgium
- Portugal
Group C
- Germany
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Poland
Group D
- France
- England
- The Netherlands
- Wales