Can England pip Spain? Will Scotland and Wales avoid relegation?

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland will all be playing twice over the next week in the Women’s Nations League group stage for the business end.

There are still three spots up for grabs in the Nations League finals, and promotion and relegation between the groups are also in play. France has already secured their place.

England will still need to win both of their matches against world champion Spain and Portugal in order to reach the finals.

As they battle relegation from League A, Scotland and Wales will both look to clinch their first championship promotion, while Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could achieve the same result.

The inaugural tournament offered spots for the 2025 Women’s European Championship, which the league hosted in 2023.

According to the match results, countries are divided into groups of three or four teams spread across three different leagues, with each league’s promotion and relegation achieving its goals.

And a lot is at stake.

The top league, League A, includes Scotland, Wales, and England.

Scotland have lost four games and are rooted to the bottom of Group A.

They suffered two dubious defeats in February, one of which was 1-0 in Austria and the other of which was 2-1 at home to the Netherlands. In April, they were beaten again by table-toppers Germany, who lost 4-0 at home and 6-1 at Frankfurt.

If they lose on Friday at home to Austria, they will be relegated, before traveling to the Netherlands on Tuesday.

France is still unbeaten in Group A2 and has already qualified for the finals.

Next matches in Groups A1 and A2

Group A1: Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Austria, and Austria, Germany, Netherlands, and Scotland, on May 30.

The Lionesses defeated Belgium 5-0 at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate in April, but a 3-2 defeat by the same team in Leuven places them in second place, behind Spain, in an effort to defend their European title in Switzerland this summer.

In the event that Spain loses to Portugal at Wembley on Friday, they are aware that they will not be able to advance to the finals.

However, Sarina Wiegman’s side would take the lead if the Lionesses won and then added three points away to Spain on Tuesday.

Wales are four points adrift at the bottom of Group A4, and they are still waiting for their first victory as they prepare to play in their first major women’s tournament this summer.

In their opening competition, they lost 1-0 to Italy, before coming back with two impressive 1-1 draws against Sweden, either side of a 2-1 defeat by Denmark.

If Italy and Wales draw away from home on Friday, they will be relegated to the bottom. Four days later, they host Italy.

Next matches in Groups A3 and A4

Group A3: England vs. Portugal, Belgium v. Spain, Spain v. England, Portugal v. Belgium, and 3 v. June v. Portugal.

Northern Ireland is currently second in Group B, but it still has a chance to advance over Poland, who are three points clear. Friday night at Seaview, the two teams play.

The final group match will take place on Tuesday when Northern Ireland travels to Zenica to face Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Northern Ireland must win.

Before home victories over Bosnia-Herzogovina and Romania, plus an away draw with the Romanians, Tanya Oxtoby’s side lost 2-0 to the Poles in February.

Slovenia host the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, three points clear of the top team in Group B2.

Before that game, they will travel to Turkey on Friday, knowing that if Slovenia lose, they will not be able to finish top.

Carla Ward’s side defeated Turkey 1-0 in Slovenia in February, before falling to Slovenia 4-0. Then, in April, they defeated Greece in two games.

Next matches in Groups B1 and B2

Group B1: Northern Ireland face Poland, Romania face Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Bosnia-Herzegovina faces Bosnia-Herzegovina on May 30; and Poland faces Romania face Poland.

At the conclusion of the 2024 women’s European qualifying league stage, teams were ranked according to their position in each league.

In two-legged semi-finals will take place between the four League A group winners. The winners advance to the final, while the losers advance to a third-place play-off. The third-place tie and the final will also be played on two legs.

The League B group winners will be promoted, and the League A group winners will be relegated to League B.

The teams that finish at the bottom of League B, along with two of the third-placed teams with the lowest ranking, will all be promoted to League C.

Which teams are placed in each league according to the Nations League’s group standings for the 2027 Women’s World Cup’s qualifiers?

The groups within the three leagues will be decided by a draw in November 2025.

For the World Cup qualifiers, teams that place in the top two of each League A group continue to be in the top league.

Promotion will be made for League B’s top four teams.

Which four teams will have to face off against League A’s third-placed teams in order to determine which third-placed teams will take the second-placed teams from League B.

Before the 2025 Women’s Euros, which begin on July 2nd, all of the Nations League group games will take place.

League variations

Matchdays 5 and 6: May 30 through June 3

Finals

Semi-finals (two legs): 22-28 October