With 2025 coming to a close, it’s important to reflect on the major milestones that have been achieved in women’s football this year. Focusing again on the European Women’s Championship, a record number attendance of 623,088 was accomplished; increasing by over 48,000 from the previous women’s Euros. Not only did we see an attendance record broken for the tournament, but on a national level here in England, a new record was set for the FA Women’s Cup final, as Wembley Stadium hosted 77,390 spectators in May. These two numbers show that the support for women’s football is there, we now just need to nourish it and keep striving to make more history.
The Lionesses’ Triumph
2025 has been a very special year for women’s football as the Lionesses were crowned European champions in July of this year. Women’s football has been growing exponentially over the past few years, and credit can definitely be given to the England Women’s team. In the past 3 years, the Lionesses have won back-to-back European Championships and featured in the World Cup final, where they narrowly lost to a talented Spanish team. This European Championship was certainly one to remember, and one that has propelled female football forward.
The Tournament Journey
The 2025 Women’s Euros was hosted by Switzerland, which was the country’s first time hosting an international women’s championship. The tournament included 16 teams, with England automatically becoming a favourite as the defending champions. England, who were initially ranked 7, were drawn in a tough group alongside France, The Netherlands and Wales; however, they overcame all the odds after losing their first game to qualify for the knockout stages. From here, the Lionesses carried that momentum all the way through to the final where they reclaimed the European title after added time and penalties. Fans from all over England celebrated the victory and praised the female players for bringing silverware home. Not only did they win the trophy, but they also won the hearts of thousands of football fans who have been desperate to see their international side find success.
Beyond the Pitch
It is so important to not only praise the team for their success on the pitch, but the significant impact they have had off it too. Regardless of background, age, gender or location, the 2025 Women’s Euros united people to cultivate support for women’s sports. It is no secret that there is still prejudice towards female athletes; however, the high-quality talent that was exhibited during the tournament showed young girls aspiring to be footballers that their dreams can come true. The more success professional female footballers have, the quicker the game will grow for all those involved. It is evident to see that there are more girls playing football than ever, and what an amazing thing that is to witness!
Looking Ahead to 2026
Moving forward, what can we hope for in 2026? First and foremost, we can be optimistic that young girls will be inspired to begin playing football. More and more youth teams are starting up around the country, giving young female footballers access to playing and competing in the sport they love.
Professional Development
Secondly, we can anticipate growth in the top two divisions of English women’s football. For the 2026/2027 season, the top two divisions of English women’s football (the Women’s Super League 1 & 2) will be expanding to welcome more teams than ever. Not only does this demonstrate the increased investment into women’s football, it also shows that there is a demand for competitive female football here in England.
On top of this, it was recently announced that all clubs in these leagues will be required to pay their athletes a full-time wage. This is a huge step in the right direction, as this will allow female footballers to leave their part-time jobs to pursue football as their sole career. Finally, we can dream of more championships for our Lionesses, and potentially an international trophy for an English club.
The Mission Continues
A key aspect of growing the women’s game further is to promote it in all spaces. Visibility is so important for the female game to develop and expand. This column will deliver news, insights and updates on the latest in women’s football, whilst monitoring the progress it is making year-round. In addition, we will share the best ways to keep up to date with all things women’s football. Whether it is attending a live match, watching a game on television or supporting your favourite team on their social media, there are so many avenues that you can take to move the game forward. Inch by inch, 1 percent by 1 percent, every ounce of support will push women’s football closer to reaching its full potential.
This article originally appeared in Liverpool Fitness Magazine
