Peter Gerhardsson could breathe a sigh of relief when he realized that Sweden avoided the death group in the A-division of the Nations League (NL) next year. The group consists of the reigning World Champion Spain, the reigning European Champion England, tough Portugal, and Belgium.
Yes, you feel that spontaneously. Then it's always exciting to meet the very best, he says at a digital press conference after the draw in Nyon.
"Okay draw"
Instead, Italy, Denmark, and Wales await Sweden, but he doesn't want to call it a dream draw.
These are three teams we can win against, but we can also drop points. It's an okay draw, says Gerhardsson.
The NL game next year affects to some extent the chances of reaching the World Championship in Brazil 2027. A good placement in the group gives a good seeding for the World Cup qualifying draw – a team that is relegated from the A-division gets a tricky and long road to the championship instead.
The divisional setup will be retained for the World Cup qualifying, which takes place in 2026. The four group winners in the A-division get a direct ticket to Brazil. The remaining European spots in the championship are filled through playoff matches where some teams from the B- and C-divisions also participate.
Sweden defeated Italy in the World Championship 2023 with 5–0, but when the teams met in the premiere edition of the Nations League later that fall, it became a 1–0 blue and yellow victory in Italy and 1–1 at home in Malmö.
We saw their development from when we met them in the World Championship. It's a nation that's on the right track, says Peter Gerhardsson.
Blue and yellow finished third in the group after Italy and group winner Spain. Sweden hung on to the A-division through a playoff win against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Hunting for European Championship spot
Wales has only met Sweden three times in history, and the last time was in the World Cup qualifying 2010.
Denmark has met Sweden many times over the years. The Danish women went directly to the European Championship in Switzerland through a second place in their qualifying group.
Before the Nations League, Sweden will just try to book a spot in the European Championship this summer. In November-December, Serbia awaits in a decisive double meeting.
The A-division in the women's Nations League consists of four four-team groups. Everyone meets everyone, home and away.
The group stage is decided during three gatherings in the first half of 2025.
Group 1: Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Scotland.
Group 2: France, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland.
Group 3: Spain, England, Belgium, Portugal.
Group 4: Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Wales.
The top two in each group continue to play in the A-division in the future. The third place gets to play a playoff – home, away – against a second place from the B-division. The fourth place is relegated to the B-division.
The group winners advance to the final – semifinals, match for third place, and final are decided over double meetings. The final takes place during the second half of 2025.
