The 2025 Women’s European Championship is officially underway — and while fans are focused on the matches, there’s another subplot brewing that’s just as compelling: love stories across rival nations.
As Iceland and Finland open the tournament at Stockholm Arena, many players will be stepping onto the pitch with a different kind of emotional pressure — one that has nothing to do with football tactics.
Playing Against the Person You Love
Some of the continent’s biggest stars will be up against more than just skilled opponents — they’ll be facing their own partners.
England’s Beth Mead and the Netherlands’ Vivianne Miedema, for instance, are not only key figures for their countries, they’re also a couple.
And yes, they’ll be facing off in the group stage.
They’re not alone. This summer’s Euros features a handful of football power couples who may have to put their hearts on pause when the whistle blows.
Ingrid Engen and Maria Leon: From Barcelona to International Boundaries
Norway’s Ingrid Engen and Spain’s Maria Leon have been dating since Engen moved to Barcelona in 2021.
The couple shared a memorable kiss during the last Euros, but now, there’s potential for a dramatic reunion if Norway and Spain face off — which could happen as early as the quarter-finals.
Leon, a trailblazer in Spain’s professional leagues, now plays for Lyon, while Engen will be repping Norway on the pitch.
Guro Reiten and Julie Nilssen: Baby on the Way and a Big Summer Ahead
Chelsea star Guro Reiten is heading into the tournament with an exciting personal milestone — she’s expecting her first child with her partner Julie Nilssen.
The couple has kept their relationship relatively low-key, but they’ve been sharing sweet moments on social media since late 2023.
Danielle van de Donk and Ellie Carpenter: Newlyweds from Two Nations
Netherlands midfielder Danielle van de Donk and Australia’s Ellie Carpenter tied the knot this year in a picturesque French château.
The couple first met at Lyon and recently announced their wedding with heartfelt Instagram posts.
Although their teams won’t face each other this summer, they’ll clash in the WSL when Carpenter joins Chelsea.
Frida Maanum and Emma Lennartsson: Teammates Turned Soulmates
Arsenal’s Frida Maanum credits her partner Emma Lennartsson with helping her settle into football life.
The two met while playing together at Sweden’s Linkopings FC.
Lennartsson, now retired, remains one of Maanum’s biggest supporters and will be cheering her on from the stands as Norway competes this summer.
Lauren Hemp and Ashley Hodson: England’s Wing Wonder and Her Number-One Fan
Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp is fit and ready to shine for the Lionesses.
She’ll be supported by her girlfriend, former footballer Ashley Hodson, who’s often seen in Hemp’s social media posts.
The couple started dating in 2023 and recently enjoyed a sunny holiday together before the Euros.
Kerstin Casparij and Ruth Brown: TikTok Love Story
Netherlands defender Kerstin Casparij and her partner Ruth Brown have a modern love story — they met on Tinder in 2023 and soon became viral sweethearts thanks to their shared TikToks.
Casparij will be suiting up for the Netherlands while Brown supports her from afar.
Alex Greenwood and Jack O’Connell: A Football-Fueled Relationship
Lioness Alex Greenwood and former Sheffield United player Jack O’Connell have been together since their sixth-form days in Merseyside.
Greenwood admits that football is always on the table — even during dinner — and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lotte Wubben-Moy and Tao Geoghegan Hart: A Power Couple On and Off the Field
Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy is dating cycling star Tao Geoghegan Hart, who won the Giro d’Italia in 2020.
The two athletes have shared their love story publicly since 2021, cheering each other on across their respective sports.
Ella Toone and Joe Bunney: The Non-League Cheerleader
England’s Ella Toone is dating Joe Bunney, a non-league footballer who proudly supports her every move.
The couple prefers to keep things low-key, but they made headlines after celebrating her Euros win with a beach getaway in Ibiza.
Chloe Kelly and Scott Moore: From DM Requests to Wedding Vows
Chloe Kelly met her now-husband Scott Moore while playing for Everton — he was working as a groundsman at the time.
Their first date was a trip to IKEA, and five years later, they got married in Cheshire.
Moore will surely be in the stands when Kelly takes on France this weekend.
Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema: From Team-mates to Rivals
Perhaps the most emotionally complex matchup comes from Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, long-time Arsenal teammates and partners.
They’ll face off when England meets the Netherlands on July 9 in Zurich.
Despite their deep connection, both admit there will be no football talk leading up to the clash.
Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder: Viral Love and a Tournament Showdown
Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden) and Pernille Harder (Denmark) have been together since 2014 and famously shared a kiss at the 2019 World Cup that went viral.
They’ve long used their platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in football.
But on July 4, it’s all about business as they go head-to-head on the pitch.
Jess Carter and Ann-Katrin Berger: A Love That Beat Cancer
Jess Carter and Ann-Katrin Berger have been through it all — from club transfers to Berger’s battle with thyroid cancer.
The couple got engaged last year and now play together at Gotham FC in the United States.
Carter describes their openness as a message of support to young LGBTQ+ fans.
Lea Schuller and Martina Piemonte: A Striker’s Duel in the Making
Germany’s Lea Schuller and Italy’s Martina Piemonte could find themselves facing off in the semi-finals — and their signature goal celebration (a tap to the head) might be the only sign of shared affection.
They’ve kept things mostly private, but their love for football — and each other — is evident.
