Switzerland, hosting the UEFA Women's EURO 2025, suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Norway in their opening match held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. The match, part of Group A, saw Switzerland take an early lead but ultimately succumb to Norway's comeback.
The game began with an opening ceremony featuring dancers with silver tubes, celebrating Switzerland's clock-making history and Alpine landscape. The ceremony aimed to highlight "diversity, unity and the triumph of women's football".
Switzerland dominated the first half, with Geraldine Reuteler hitting the crossbar in the 24th minute. Nadine Riesen then capitalized on a scramble in the box to score in the 28th minute, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. However, Norway, displaying their experience and technical prowess, fought back in the second half.
Ada Hegerberg, Norway's star player, equalized in the 54th minute with a header from a Vilde Bøe Risa corner. Just four minutes later, Julia Stierli's attempted clearance resulted in an own goal, giving Norway the lead. Hegerberg had a chance to seal the victory but missed a penalty in the 70th minute after Reuteler was penalized for handball. Switzerland were then awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Despite the setback, the Swiss team continued to press for an equalizer, with Reuteler creating decent chances. However, they were unable to break through Norway's defense. The match concluded with Norway securing a 2-1 victory, their third over Switzerland in 2025 by a single goal.
The loss was a bitter pill for the Swiss to swallow, especially after their strong first-half performance. They had lost to Norway twice in the Nations League earlier in the year. For Norway, the win was a crucial start to their Euro 2025 campaign, placing them at the top of Group A. The match was broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and FOX Sports and Disney+ in the USA.