The UEFA European Women’s Championship, also called the UEFA Women’s Euro, is the most prestigious competition in women’s association football between national teams in Europe.
The competition is the women’s equivalent of the men’s UEFA European Championship. It is held every four years and one year after the men’s tournament.
England are the reigning UEFA Women’s Euro champions, who won their home tournament in 2022.
Initially held once in 3 or 2 years, Women’s Euro has been staged once in four years since the 1997 edition. The tournament was launched as a four-team event in 1984 and continued to stay that way till the 1995 edition, often competed by Sweden, Italy, Germany and Norway.
From 1997, the Women’s Euro expanded to an eight-team tournament and later in 2009 further expanded into a twelve-team competition. The tournament got even bigger with the addition of four more teams from 2017.
The inaugural edition which needed a replay and penalty shootout was won by Sweden, and the second edition in 1987 was won by their neighbours Norway. However, Germany since their entry in 1989, went on to become a dominant force in the Euros.
The Women’s Euro also had third place play-offs in four editions with Italy (1987) and Sweden (1989) winning the match once, and Denmark (1991, 1993) winning twice. UEFA has abandoned the third-placed playoff since the 1995 edition.
The dominance of Germany
Germany are the most successful team in Women’s Euro, having won the title a total number of eight times. It is quite a staggering figure and explains the dominance of the county in women’s football.
The dominance of Germany in European football can be gauged from the fact that they won six consecutive titles between 1995-2013.
Overall, five different countries have won the women’s Euros, but Germany and Norway remain the only winners of more than one edition of the tournament.
Also Read: Most Expensive Transfers In Women’s Football
Nations with the most titles in UEFA Women’s Euro
- Germany: 8 (1989, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013)
- Norway: 2 (1987, 1993)
- Sweden: 1 (1984)
- Netherlands: 1 (2017)
- England: 1 (2022)
UEFA Women’s Euro: List of winners in history
| Edition | Champion | Score | Runner Up |
| 2022 | England | 2-1 AET | Germany |
| 2017 | Netherlands | 4-2 | Denmark |
| 2013 | Germany | 1-0 | Norway |
| 2009 | Germany | 6-2 | England |
| 2005 | Germany | 3-1 | Norway |
| 2001 | Germany | 1-0 GG | Sweden |
| 1997 | Germany | 2-0 | Italy |
| 1995 | Germany | 3-2 | Sweden |
| 1993 | Norway | 1-0 | Italy |
| 1991 | Germany | 3-1 AET | Norway |
| 1989 | West Germany | 4-1 | Norway |
| 1987 | Norway | 2-1 | Sweden |
| 1984 | Sweden | 1-0, 0-1 (4-3 Pens) | England |
GG – Golden Goal; AET – After Extra Time; Pens – Penalty Shootout
