Two major tournaments in women’s soccer concluded this weekend with England besting World Cup champion Spain on Sunday in a penalty kick shootout to win the UEFA Women’s Euros for the second straight time and Nigeria rallying from two down to score three second-half goals and capture the country’s 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
While the USWNT was out of competitive action, the quality of these tournaments provided women’s football fans in America and around the globe entertaining soccer at a high level. Here are some other things we learned:
Viewership numbers continue to grow
The Euros were considered widely successful for women’s soccer, and the 2025 edition hosted in Switzerland brought the largest crowd in the history of the tournament. The total attendance, including Sunday’s final in Basel, surpassed 657,000, and 29 of the 31 matches sold out.
Interest in the tournament extended far beyond Europe. The Euros were easy to access here in the United States with games broadcast on FOX. According to The Athletic, viewership nearly doubled from the previous tournament in 2022 when England defeated Germany to win the program’s first major championship.
NWSL stars show up in a big way on the global stage
Both the Euros and the Africa Cup of Nations featured women who play their club ball in America for the NWSL. Golden Boot leader Esther González of Gotham FC was the top scorer at the Euros with four goals – and very nearly made it five with a wicked header in the final against England that drove just wide of frame.
Jess Carter, who also plays for Gotham, was superb defensively for England in the final, playing a full 90 minutes and making several gutsy stops when Spain pushed to find the game-winner in extra time. She joined NWSL figures Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit) and Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride) on England’s championship squad.
In total, eight players from the NWSL played in the African Cup of Nations, including Ghana midfielder/forward Stella Nyamekye (Gotham FC) and Zambia striker Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride).
One player will return to Houston Dash a champion – Michelle Alozie, who subbed on in the 78th minute for Nigeria in the final in Morocco.
NCAA soccer is represented around the world
As we gear up for a new season of college soccer, which kicks off next month, the NCAA was also well represented at the Euros. Four Lionesses played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels, including England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman. The Dutch manager played alongside USWNT legends Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly at UNC under head coach Anson Dorrance. Wiegman now has an impressive three Euro titles to her name after previously managing her native Netherlands to the crown in 2017.
The other English Tar Heels are forward Alessia Russo, who scored the crucial header in the second half to pull England even with Spain, Lucy Bronze, the tough-as-nails right fullback who played the entire tournament on a broken leg, and Lotte Wubben-Moy.
U.S. Soccer stars give their support
The USWNT might’ve been out of action during this window of competitive play, but plenty around the program showed their support for the sport.
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes shouted out both Euros finalists Sunday on Instagram, saying that “our game is here to stay.” Forward Catarina Macario showed up in Switzerland to root for her Chelsea FC teammates. USWNT legend Alex Morgan also made the trip to Europe to attend the semifinal between Spain and Germany. And World Cup champion Carli Lloyd sat behind the desk on the FOX Sports broadcast, offering analysis alongside four-time European champion Ariane Hingst, Alexi Lalas and Stu Holden.
October friendlies bring Euros-level soccer to American soil
The USWNT also got a look at one upcoming opponent. On Monday, U.S. Soccer announced the USWNT will host Portugal for two friendlies in the October international window.
Portugal did not make it to the knockout rounds of this year’s Euros, though the no. 22-ranked team in FIFA did give semifinalist Italy a run for their money. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in the group stage behind an 89th minute equalizer from Portugal’s Diana Gomes.
Aside from Portugal, fans of U.S. Soccer got a look at their team’s best competition. As of July 28, the USWNT is ranked No. 1 in the world FIFA rankings and we’re still two years away from the next major women’s tournament, but countries like No. 2 Spain, No. 3 Germany, No. 5 England, and surging Italy prove to be the among the strongest competition coming out of Europe ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
