Women's European Championship 2025: In these games, couples must compete against each other

The first duel between two teams at the 2025 Women's European Championship could have taken place as early as July 4. Denmark versus Sweden, Pernille Harder versus Magdalena Eriksson. The footballers have been a couple for over ten years and engaged since last year. But that didn't happen: Eriksson had to cut back due to an overwork reaction and did not play.

But there's another exciting duel at the European Championships: England's Beth Mead will face her partner Vivianne Miedema, who plays for the Netherlands, on July 9. Mead told the BBC at the time: "When the draw was made, we both sat there and said, 'Of course it happened!'" But this might not be the last rather unusual encounter at the Women's European Championships in Switzerland.

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In the video: The players' partners of the German women's national team

Germany's number one, Ann-Katrin Berger, could also experience a special match at the European Championships – possibly as early as the quarterfinals against England, for whom her fiancée Jessica Carter plays. Three years ago, Berger had to watch the European Championship final as a substitute, while Carter sat on the bench for England. "I'm delighted with her success," Berger told the Guardian.

Berger battled thyroid cancer twice, both times with Carter's support. They have been a couple since 2017. "I was worried it would be too much for Jess, but she was very supportive," Berger said. They met as teammates at Birmingham City. In 2014, they both moved to the United States, and that same summer, Berger proposed to her partner.

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Back to Harder and Eriksson. They've been engaged since last year. They met at Linköpings FC and later had a long-distance relationship. In 2017, Eriksson moved to Chelsea, while Harder played for Wolfsburg and moved to London in 2020. Both joined FC Bayern in 2023. They are committed to diversity and a safe environment for queer people in football.

At the 2019 World Cup, they caused a sensation with a kiss that went viral: Eriksson had seen Sweden beat Canada in the round of 16, and Harder was there as a fan. "We were surprised by how necessary such a photo was for football," Eriksson told dpa in retrospect. "But after that special moment, we realized how important it is to be visible, to do things that are second nature to us, and to be proud of it."