Start of the 2025 Women’s European Championship

The tournament kicks off in Thun’s Stockholm Arena with Iceland facing Finland. Although the opening match may seem less intense, the event promises the excitement and growth seen in recent women’s football tournaments that have significantly boosted the sport’s popularity.

Players have trained extensively to perform at their best, knowing this competition could be a defining moment in their careers. While many will enjoy the support of cheering fans, some competitors will face a different challenge—competing against their partners or close allies.

One notable example involves England’s Beth Mead and Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, who are in the same group. Both are partnered with players they may face during the tournament, adding a layer of personal rivalry to the competition.

Famous Player Partners Facing Each Other

The tournament also features several couples, including:

Ingrid Engen (Norway) and Maria Leon (Spain): Ex Barcelona teammates who have been dating since 2021. Leon recently transferred to Lyon, which may create a conflict if Norway and Spain meet in the knockout stages.
Guro Reiten (Norway) and Julie Nilssen: The Chelsea winger expects her first child with Nilssen, and they’ve been together since at least late 2023. Reiten’s Norway team is considered an outsider for the title.
Danielle van de Donk (Netherlands) and Ellie Carpenter (Australia): A married couple who met while playing for Lyon; they married in France in early 2024 and now play for different national teams.
Ella Toone (England) and Joe Bunney: The England star is dating a non-league footballer and they were seen enjoying a holiday together before the tournament.
Lauren Hemp (England) and Ashley Hodson: The Manchester City winger received support from her partner, a former midfielder, throughout her recovery.
Kerstin Casparij (Netherlands) and Ruth Brown: They met via a dating app and are now proud partners, often sharing their relationship publicly.
Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden) and Pernille Harder (Denmark): Their relationship, which started in 2014, became widely recognized after a viral 2019 photo, but they will face each other in the tournament’s opening match.

Additional Notable Couples

Jess Carter (England) and Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany): Engaged, with a relationship dating back to 2016.
Lea Schuller (Germany) and Martina Piemonte (Italy): Dating for several months and potentially rivals during the tournament’s later stages.
Other couples include: Wubben-Moy and Tao Geoghegan Hart, Toone and Joe Bunney, as well as others, highlighting the close personal ties within women’s football.

Many of these relationships showcase the personal and professional intertwining of the players during this major European tournament, adding an extra layer of emotion and rivalry to the competition.