Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.8 2022-23

In line with UEFA’s Women’s Football Strategy: Time For Action and the goal to transform
competitions, the UEFA Executive Committee yesterday approved a new and innovative national
team competition system that ultimately leads to qualification for the UEFA Women’s EURO or
the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The changes come after extensive work by a national team competitions working group
comprising representatives from different national associations and follows a recommendation of
the UEFA Women’s Football Committee.
The first time the new format will be played is in the lead up to UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.
Starting in autumn 2023, the new national team competition system connects a Nations League
with European Qualifiers; offers promotion, relegation and Nations League finals in between; and
adds exciting European Qualifiers play-off matches at the end. The new league-style format will
divide national associations into three tiers. Within each tier, national teams will play in groups
of four (or three) and on a home-and-away basis against each opponent in their group.
At the end of the Nations League, the finals determine the Nations League winner and, every
four years, the three European teams that will qualify for the Olympics. The final Nations League
ranking (with automatic promotion and relegation), and the promotion and relegation matches,
will also establish the starting league positioning of teams in the European Qualifiers.
At the end of the European Qualifiers, the final ranking will determine the teams that qualify
directly for the UEFA Women’s EURO or the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the teams that can
qualify via the European Qualifiers play-offs. In addition, the final European Qualifiers ranking
(with automatic promotion and relegation) will be used to determine in which league national
associations start in the next competition cycle.
The revamped format is interconnected, dynamic and meritocratic, and aims to create a
more competitive environment with greater sporting and commercial interest, while still
guaranteeing the chance for all national associations to qualify for the UEFA Women’s EURO and
the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Commenting on the new format, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin explained: “I said this
summer that we would continue to invest in women’s football, and we are.
“Off the back of a historic UEFA Women’s EURO, it is now time to further develop women’s
national team football. We have built an open, competitive, and continuous system in which every
match will matter, a true reflection of the European sports model. I am convinced that this format
will help all European national associations and keep the dream of qualifying for a major
international tournament alive.”
Meanwhile, tickets for the first ever edition of the UEFA-CONMEBOL Women’s Finalissima
went on sale at wembleystadium.com/tickets from Monday with fans urged to secure their tickets
early as a sell out crowd is expected for another highlight for women’s football.
The match will be played between the winners of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, England, and
the 2022 CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina champions, Brazil, at 7.45pmon Thursday 6th
April 2023 at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. It will give both teams a chance to lift another
trophy before heading to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand a few
months later.
The match has been organised as part of the long standing partnership between UEFA and
CONMEBOL and follows the success of the men’s Finalissima between UEFA EURO 2020
winners Italy and CONMEBOL Copa América champions Argentina in front of a sold out
Wembley crowd in June 2022, as well as other Finalissima for youth competition matches and
Futsal.
The capacity of Wembley Stadium for the match will be 89,000 with tickets being sold on a
first come, first served basis.
Ticket prices start from just £7.50 for children aged 16 or under and £15 for adults, meaning
a family of four will be able to watch some of the world’s best players from just £45. Tickets for
children aged 16 or under are priced at 50% across all categories.
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk