England Wins Second Consecutive UEFA Women's Euro Title with Thrilling Penalty Shootout Victory

England's women's national football team secured their second consecutive UEFA Women's Euro title on July 27, 2025, defeating Spain 3-1 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland.

This victory not only cements England's dominance in European women's football but also highlights the sport's rapid growth, evidenced by record-breaking attendance figures and increased global viewership.

The final match saw Spain take an early lead with a first-half goal from Mariona Caldentey, assisted by Ona Batlle. England responded in the second half when Alessia Russo equalized with a header from a Chloe Kelly cross. With the score tied at 1-1 after extra time, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. England's Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty, while goalkeeper Hannah Hampton made two crucial saves, securing the 3-1 shootout victory.

The final attracted 34,203 spectators, the highest attendance of the tournament. Overall, the tournament set a new record with a total attendance of 657,291, surpassing the previous record of 574,875 set in 2022. The final also drew an estimated global audience of 45 million viewers.

UEFA allocated a record €41 million in prize money for the tournament, a 156% increase from 2022. Payments to clubs releasing players for the tournament increased to €9 million, reflecting UEFA's commitment to growing women's football.

England became the third team to win consecutive Women's Euro titles, following Germany and Norway. Coach Sarina Wiegman achieved her third successive Women's Euro title, having previously led the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022.

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who replaced the retired Mary Earps, was named Player of the Match for her performance in the final, including two key saves during the penalty shootout. Forward Michelle Agyemang earned the Young Player of the Tournament award, contributing significantly throughout the competition.

The Lionesses' success has sparked optimism for increased investment in women's football, with stakeholders hopeful for greater funding, expanded media coverage, and improved infrastructure. The tournament generated significant economic activity in Switzerland, with an estimated 180 million Swiss Francs, and aimed to double the number of female football players in the country by 2027.

Thousands of fans gathered in central London to celebrate the team's victory, with players greeting supporters from open-top buses marked "Champions."

This triumph is seen as a significant milestone in the development and recognition of women's football in England and across Europe.