FC Nordsjælland Women Reach Europa Cup Quarters

FC Nordsjælland Women have reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup, marking a new milestone in what is only their second season in European football.

As Danish Superliga runners-up, the team began the 2024/25 European campaign in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers.

In their opening match against Sparta Praha, Nordsjælland showed significant resilience, coming back from 3–0 and 4–1 down to force a penalty shoot-out, though ultimately they lost 3–4 on penalties.

In the subsequent third-place match of the mini-tournament, Nordsjælland secured a 4–2 win over Aktobe, a result that confirmed their place in this season’s Europa Cup.

Europa Cup Journey

Entering the Europa Cup, Nordsjælland faced Finnish side KuPS Kuopio in the first qualifying round. The team won 3–1 at home and followed that with a 5–1 victory away, progressing 8–2 on aggregate.

In the second qualifying round, Nordsjælland met Lithuanian champions FK Gintra. The first leg ended in a narrow 1–0 defeat away from home, but the return fixture in Farum saw a strong response.

A 5–0 home win reversed the tie and sent the team into the Round of 16 with a 5–1 aggregate score. The Round of 16 brought a two-leg meeting with Slovenia’s Mura. Nordsjælland won the first leg 1–0 at home and built on that advantage with a 4–0 victory away. The 5–0 aggregate result secured the club’s first-ever place in a UEFA quarter-final.

A Young Squad Making Progress

Beyond the results, this European run reflects the continued development of a young group. The squad has an average age of 20.6, and 13 academy graduates have featured in first-team football this season.

After several squad changes in the summer, the coaching staff placed continued trust in younger players, giving them significant playing time and responsibility throughout the campaign.

This approach has allowed the team to grow together while gaining valuable experience on the European stage.

Looking Ahead

With the quarterfinals scheduled for February, the club now prepares for another significant challenge. Regardless of the outcome, the team’s progress this season reflects steady steps forward in European competition and demonstrates what can be achieved when young players are given real opportunity, and how far a team can go when its identity is built on long-term development