Poland is only two games away from earning a spot in their first women’s international competition in the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.
There have been difficulties with their campaign. The UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers League A presented Poland with fierce opposition, but it also helped them get ready for the high-stakes play-offs.
A two-leg match against Austria currently separates Poland from the top division of European football after they easily defeated Romania 6-2 on aggregate in the first round.
The Gdansk Stadium, which was designated as the official home of the Polish women’s national team earlier this year, will host the first leg against Austria on November 29.
Poland defeated Romania 4-1 in the opening leg of the round one play-offs in the Women’s European Qualifiers at the state-of-the-art stadium, which has played host to four UEFA EURO 2012 matches and the 2021 Europa League final.
Captain and talismanic striker Ewa Pajor scored twice, and Natalia Padilla and Nadia Krezyman also scored, setting a record for the women’s national team’s attendance of 8,449 spectators.
It was a significant turning point in the Polish women’s football scene’s explosive growth, which has been fueled by the Polish Football Association.
In Poland, UEFA Playmakers is also flourishing; since the program’s inception in 2021, over 300 coaches have been trained and over 3,000 girls have participated. At the top level, Pajor is demonstrating what is feasible for female athletes in the nation.
Pajor was the top scorer in the 2022–2023 Women’s Champions League and won five Frauen-Bundesliga titles with Wolfsburg.
The striker has already scored two goals for the defending Women’s Champions League champions since joining Barcelona for the 2024–2025 campaign.
A historic victory would be achieved if Poland defeats Austria in their pivotal play-off match. Pajor will surely play a key role because of her elite background and capacity to perform at the highest level, but the accomplishment would also demonstrate the heightened efforts to advance Polish women’s football.
