Denmark women's national football team

The Denmark women's national football team (Danish: Danmarks kvindefodboldlandshold) represents Denmark and Greenland in international women's football. The team is governed by the Danish Football Association (DBU) and competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer Olympics, the Algarve Cup, and, since 2023, the new UEFA Women's Nations League.

A Danish national women's football team was not formally recognised by DBU until February 1972. The first official match was played against Sweden in Markusböle, Finland on 27 July 1974.^[4][5] During the era before DBU recognised women's football as legitimate, various teams were assembled independently to compete for Denmark in unofficial competitions, including the 1969 Euros, 1970 Women's World Cup and the 1971 Women's World Cup. Denmark were runners-up at the 1969 Euros held in Italy, and won both the 1970 and 1971 World Cups held in Italy and Mexico, respectively. The 1971 final in Mexico had the highest ever recorded attendance of a women's sporting event, with 112,500 spectators.^[6][7]

Denmark have qualified four times for the FIFA Women's World Cup and nine times for the UEFA Women's Championship. The team's greatest official accomplishment to date was winning silver at the UEFA Women's Euro 2017, where they lost to the Netherlands.^[8] In the UEFA Women's Euro 2013, Denmark beat France to reach the semi-finals, where they lost on penalties to Norway.^[9][10][11]

In March 2007, Denmark was ranked sixth in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, reaching the highest ranking since it was introduced. The lowest ranking so far was a 20th place finish in June 2016.

Denmark were one of the earliest pioneers of women's football, competing in the unofficial Women's World Cup tournaments in 1970 and 1971. Denmark won both tournaments, the first ever Danish football team to win the World Cup. The final of the 1971 Women's World Cup was played at Estadio Azteca in Coyoacán, Mexico, in front of a crowd of 112,500, the record attendance for any women's sporting event.^[6][12][7]

At the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 in the Netherlands, Denmark was drawn into Group A with Netherlands, Norway and Belgium. They secured a 1–0 victories over Belgium and Norway, but lost 1–0 to Netherlands. Despite that they managed to advance as runners-up in the group, to the quarter-finals against Germany.^[13] The Danes surprisingly won against the 22-year reigning champions of Europe and qualified to the semifinals, with a 2–1 win.^[14] Denmark defeated Austria 3–0 on penalties to reach the final for the first time, after the match finished goalless.^[15] In the final the team met Netherlands at the De Grolsch Veste, Enschede, standing in front of a crowd of 28,182 spectators. The Dutch team defeated Denmark, by a 4–2 victory and claimed their first UEFA Euro title.^[16]

Denmark were in Group D with England, China and Haiti.^[17] They lost to England and defeated China and Haiti to finish second in the group. They were eliminated in the Round of 16 when they lost 2-0 to Australia.^[18]

Denmark was allotted Group 2 in the League A qualification due to previously competing in League A of the 2023–2024 Nations League and competed against 2023 World Cup winners Spain, as well as Belgium and Czechia. At the start of qualifying Denmark's FIFA ranking was #13, with Spain #1, Belgium #18, and Czechia #30.^[19]

Denmark won the first match away 3–1 over Czechia, where striker Amalie Vangsgaard scored a long-distance goal from 40 meters out just over the halfway-line, after spotting the Czech keeper had come out some distance from goal.^{[20][21][22][23]} The goal won the Danish Football Association (DBU) Goal of the Year award.^[24] Denmark also won their last qualifying match, the home match against Czechia, 2–0.

Denmark hosted the Spanish World Cup winners in a 2–0 defeat at Vejle Stadium.^[25][26] The away match in Tenerife saw Denmark take the lead after 4 minutes of play and double it in the second half, both goals by Janni Thomsen. Before the second Danish goal, keeper Maja Bay Østergaard saved a Spanish penalty taken by Mariona Caldentey. Denmark lost the match by 3–2, conceding two goals on corners in quick succession, with the winning goal scored in extra time.^[27][28]

The first match against Belgium, played at home, saw Denmark beat the side 4–2, albeit they were 4–0 up in the second half when Belgium managed to get two goals back to make the final result. In the first half, left wing-back Sofie Svava recorded two assists from corner set-pieces to set up Vangsgaard, before Svava scored the third goal for Denmark from open play. During the second half, Frederikke Thøgersen scored the fourth goal for Denmark from outside the box, cementing the Danish victory despite conceding two.^[29][30] The goal by Thøgersen was nominated for the DBU Goal of the Year award.^[31] The lead-up to the corresponding match away in Belgium saw the Belgian national team take to try and gain an advantage on Denmark, first by staying at the hotel at the grounds so Denmark could not train on the match day pitch without being watched by their opponents. The Danish team found another training location, but the Danish staff called off training as they discovered that they were being watched and recorded by individuals standing on the roof of a nearby hotel, who were later confirmed to be part of the Belgian team staff. The Belgian Football Association (Belgian FA) admitted to these actions and issued an apology to the Danish association. UEFA did not sanction the Belgian FA nor were any other actions taken to penalise the Belgian FA for spying.^[32][33] Denmark won the match 3–0 to qualify for the 2025 Euros.^[34][35]

Denmark competed in League A of the 2025 Nations League, so allotted based on their performance in the Euro 2025 qualifying matches.^[36] The tournament was only scheduled to take place within the calendar year. Denmark competed against Sweden, Italy, and Wales. At the start of the tournament in February, Denmark's FIFA ranking was #12, with Sweden #5, Italy #13, and Wales #30.^[37]

Denmark won both matches against Wales, and the away match against Italy 3–1. Despite this, Denmark showed a tendency to stumble when faced with adversity during matches, most notably in the 3–0 loss at home to Italy, and the 6–1 dismantling away against Sweden on 6 June.^{[38][39][40][41][42][43]} The Sweden match was a crucial game in Denmark's bid for staying in League A, following the loss to Italy.^[44][45] It was the last game of the Nations League campaign, and the final game before Denmark's first group match in the 2025 Euros, also against Sweden. The loss saw Denmark place 3rd overall in their group, thus facing play-off matches that September to avoid relegation to League B.^[42][43][46]

In the lead-up to the match, media speculation about Denmark coach Jeglertz's departure following the Euros intensified, culminating the day before the match where several outlets reported that Danish coach Jakob Michelsen was slated to be the new Denmark coach.^[47][48][49] Due to the scrutiny, the Danish Football Association (DBU) confirmed the rumours only hours before the match regarding Jeglertz's departure from the post, the handling of which was met with criticism.^[50][51] The players were informed on the day of the match as well, hours before the official confirmation from DBU.^[52] The scale of the loss to Sweden saw the media post-match question whether the news surrounding Jeglertz's departure had impacted performance, which both the players and Jeglertz rejected.^[53][54]

On 20 June, the 23 player-squad for the 2025 Euros was selected.^{[55][56][57][58]} The announcement was made with a selection video featuring winners from the 1971 Women's World Cup and players from the men's team.^[59][60] The selection saw the return of Nadia Nadim after a lengthy absence, for what was later reported to be her final appearances for the national team, as well as forward Rikke Marie Madsen and midfielder Karen Holmgaard, the latter returning from a two-year absence from the national team due to injury.^{[61][62][63][64][65][66]} The omission of Lyon player Sofie Svava, playing at the club with the highest Opta Sports-rating among the Danish internationals^[a], was possibly the biggest surprise of the selection. Svava's agent told the press that it was “a joke” that she was not called up considering her merits and talent, and dismissed what Jeglertz had given as the reasoning, that the team needed a more defensive setup, citing that Svava faces the best attackers in the world playing at Lyon.^{[68][69][70][67]}

On 3 July, less than 24 hours before Denmark's first Euro 2025 match, longstanding rumours of Jeglertz taking a position as manager of Manchester City were confirmed.^{[71][72][73][74]}

Denmark faced Sweden in the first group stage match on Friday 4 July, in Denmark's first competitive match following the 6-1 defeat to Sweden in Stockholm a month prior. Denmark lined up in a 3-4-2-1, with Frederikke Thøgersen, Emma Færge and Karen Holmgaard returning to the starting eleven. Sweden were dominant throughout the match, but had trouble breaking through the Danish defence. Keeper Bay saved a direct free-kick from Filippa Angeldahl in the first half. Angeldahl scored early in the second half, and Thøgersen saved a shot from Blackstenius on the goal line. Denmark did not create many chances, albeit Pernille Harder hit the crossbar with a left-footed shot on goal, and Denmark lost to Sweden 1-0. Coming on late in the game, Nadia Nadim made her 18th Euros appearance, tying Katrine Pedersen for most Danish appearances in the competition.^{[75][76][77][78][79]}

The women’s national team does not currently have its own home grounds. From 2015 until 2024, the team played at Energi Viborg Arena, located in Viborg, which has a maximum capacity of 10,000. Since the agreement between the Danish Football Association and Viborg Municipality expired in the summer of 2024, the women’s team has been playing matches at various venues around the country.^[80]

The highest number of spectators for a women's international match on Danish soil was set on 24 June 2022 at an exhibition match against Brazil in Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, where 21,542 attended.^[81] The previous record attendance of 9,337 spectators was set during 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying against Finland at Viborg Stadium on 27 September 2006.^[82]

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixtures

As of March 2025^[84]

As of 8 July 2025^[85]

Notes

23 players were called up for the 2025 Euros.

Caps and goals are current as of the 8 July 2025 match against Germany.^[86]

The following list of active players were not called up for the latest match of the national team, but were called up for an A-level match within the last 12 months.

Players listed in bold are still active at national level.^[87]

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

• Women's Nordic Football Championship: Winner 1974, 1975, 1976, 1982^[89]

• 1970 : Champions (non-official competition)^[90]
• 1971 : Champions (non-official competition)^[91]
• 1981 : Runners-up (non-official competition)^[92]
• 1984 : Did not participate (non-official competition)^[92]
• 1985 : Third Place (non-official competition)^[92]
• 1986 : Did not participate (non-official competition)^[92]
• 1988 : Did not participate (non-official competition)^[92]

• 1969 : Runner-up (non-official competition)^[93]
• 1979 : Champions (non-official competition)^[94]

• UEFA Women's Euro
  • Runners-up: 2017

• FIEFF Women's World Cup
  • Winners (2): 1970, 1971

The Danish Football Association Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to celebrate the achievements and contributions of outstanding Danish players and staff.^[95] The inductees are selected by a jury consisting of six people; the current team have two representatives from DBU, two former players, and two media persons. In 2016, 10 years after its inception, the first female footballer was inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was a double induction, with also the second ever female player awarded the honour.^[96][97][98] In 2023, 17 years after the Hall of Fame was created, the first female jury member - 2022 inductee Katrine Pedersen - was invited to join.^{[99][100][101]}

• List of Denmark women's international footballers
• Denmark women's national football team results
• Denmark women's national under-19 football team
• Denmark women's national under-17 football team

• Official website
• FIFA profile