England vs Sweden LIVE: Lionesses team news and line-ups ahead of Euro 2025 qualifier at Wembley

England take on Sweden at Wembley tonight in the first match of their qualifying campaign to reach the European Championships in 2025.

As defending champions, England’s route to Euro 2025 won’t be as easy as their comfortable World Cup qualifying run, which saw them humiliate Latvia 20-0.

Following a change to the qualifying format, the Lionesses will face France, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland to claim one of the two automatic qualification spots in Group A3.

England’s European Championship defense begins at Wembley, the scene of their historic Euro 2022 victory, and with a rematch against Sweden. The Lionesses beat Sweden 4-0 in the Euro 2022 semi-finals, but they can be tough to beat and finished third at the World Cup last summer.

Follow all the live action from the Lionesses match at Wembley in the blog below

England vs Sweden LIVE: Latest updates for Euro 2025 qualifying

England host Sweden as the road to Euro 2025 gets underway, with kick-off at Wembley at 8pm
European champions England will face Sweden, France and Ireland in a tough qualifying group
England team news: Lionesses captain Leah Williamson returns from injury

Sarina Wiegman gives Leah Williamson fitness update on the eve of England’s Euro 2025 qualifiers

5:05 PM , Chris Wilson

England manager Sarina Wiegman has provided an update on the fitness of Euro-winning captain Leah Williamson.

Williamson trained on her own on Tuesday after coming off at half-time of Arsenal’s Conti Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday.

But she trained with the group on Wednesday and if she comes through Thursday’s session unscathed, she will be in contention to make her first international appearance in 12 months as the Lionesses begin their qualifying campaign.

She has not played for her country since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in April last year, after withdrawing from the training squad in March with a hamstring strain.

“We have to deal with it a little bit. She had a full training on Wednesday, today (Thursday) she is on the field, so it looks very good,” said Wiegman.

Wiegman gives Williamson fitness update on the eve of the Euro 2025 qualifiers

Switzerland is hosting the 2025 European Championship, accused of ‘scandalous’ budget cuts

4:50 PM , Chris Wilson

The Swiss government has been warned it risks slowing the growing momentum of women’s football in Europe after its “outrageous” decision to cut funding for Euro 2025.

In 2008, Switzerland was supported in its co-hosting of the men’s European Championships with a £71 million (82 million Swiss francs) package from the Federal Council, but the amount allocated for next summer’s women’s tournament has been dramatically reduced to just £3.5 million. (4 million Swiss francs).

The staging of Euro 2025 in Switzerland follows the record-breaking Euro 2022 in England, where the Lionesses defeated Germany in the final in front of a sold-out Wembley at the end of a four-week tournament that broke several attendance records.

But with qualifying for Euro 2025 starting this week, ahead of next July’s tournament final, doubts have been raised over Switzerland’s ability to support the growth of women’s football after government funding was cut due to cost-cutting measures.

Switzerland is hosting the 2025 European Championship, accused of ‘scandalous’ budget cuts

Lionesses face ‘group of death’ and calendar chaos as road to Euro 2025 begins

4:35 PM , Chris Wilson

Tonight will be England’s first match in a group dubbed the ‘group of death’.

England now have to compete against France, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland to even qualify for the European Championship. Spare a thought for Ireland, who have drawn three of the world’s top five and will play three of the four semi-finalists from Euro 2022’s record-breaking success.

After all, that’s what the Lionesses want to strive for. However, it is logical that UEFA adopts the Nations League model for the European Championship qualifiers. The one-sided and, in the case of the 20-0 against Latvia, record-breaking victories that England saw on their way to World Cup qualification are not good for anyone. But as England experienced last December during their Nations League campaign, which also served as an Olympic Games qualifier, the margins become much smaller as the caliber of opposition improves.

Only two teams from the English group qualify automatically, although the Lionesses would be assured of a play-off qualification even if they finish in the bottom two places of their group. But amid the danger, the Lionesses have six good games to look forward to, starting with a rematch against Sweden at Wembley, the Swedes out for revenge after the 4-0 thrashing by a rampant England side and the heel of Alessia . Russo’s shoe in the European Championship semi-finals.

Lionesses face ‘group of death’ and calendar chaos as road to Euro 2025 begins

How does qualifying for Euro 2025 work? Competition format and play-off rounds explained

4:15 PM , Chris Wilson

England begin their defense of the European Championship as the Euro 2025 qualifiers get underway, but the Lionesses face a ‘group of death’ on the way to Switzerland.

The Lionesses beat Germany to win the 2022 European Championship in front of a sold-out Wembley and will be looking for a new major tournament showpiece after their participation in the Women’s World Cup final last year.

But changes to the European Championship qualifying format mean Sarina Wiegman’s side face a challenge in reaching the Euro 2025 final, at least compared to their string of one-sided victories in qualifying for the last World Cup.

How do England qualify for Euro 2025?

England play each other twice in Group A3, once at home and once away, in three international periods. In League A, the top two teams in each group automatically qualify for the Euro 2025 final, while the other two teams finishing third and fourth advance to the play-offs – even if they lose every match. It means that at least one of the countries France, England or Sweden, all semi-finalists of the last European Championship, will advance to the play-offs.

This is how qualifying for Euro 2025 works…

How does qualifying for Euro 2025 work? Competition format and play-off rounds explained

Asked England team news

16:02 , Jamie Braidwood

Captain Leah Williamson will return to the Lionesses for the first time in a year, with the Arsenal centre-back expected to be fit to start at least one of the two games ahead of games against Sweden tonight and Ireland on Tuesday.

Midfielder Grace Clinton impressed in England’s two wins over Italy and Austria in February and could start in midfield.

Goalkeeper Khiara Keating has returned to Manchester City due to a knee injury, while Millie Bright is out of the squad as the centre-back recovers from a knee injury.

Is England vs Sweden on TV? Channel, showtime and how to watch Lionesses tonight

4:00 PM , Chris Wilson

England begin the defense of their European crown as the Lionesses return to Wembley to take on Sweden in the opening match of the Euro 2025 qualifiers.

Sarina Wiegman’s side claimed their first major title as they won Euro 2022 in front of a sold-out Wembley with their historic extra-time victory over Germany.

England have managed to get into the ‘group of death’ in qualifying and will compete for two automatic places alongside Sweden, France and the Republic of Ireland.

The match starts at 8pm BST at Wembley. It will be shown on ITV 1 and online on ITV X, with coverage from 7.30pm.

Is England vs Sweden on TV? Channel, showtime and how to watch Lionesses tonight