Finland emerged victorious against Iceland in the opening match of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, securing a 1-0 win. The crucial moment arrived in the 70th minute when Katariina Kosola scored a stunning goal, capitalizing on Iceland being reduced to 10 players. The match, played in Thun, Switzerland, marked a promising start for Finland in Group A, which is considered a highly competitive group in the tournament.

The game was tightly contested, with both teams struggling to find a breakthrough. Iceland suffered a setback in the 58th minute when Hildur Antonsdottir received a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle, leaving her team with a player disadvantage. Finland promptly took advantage of this situation. Kosola, who had been a threat throughout the match, cut in from the left flank and unleashed a right-footed shot that found the top corner of the net.

Kosola's performance was a highlight of the match, as she consistently troubled the Icelandic defense. Prior to her goal, she had forced Iceland's goalkeeper Cecilía Rúnarsdóttir into a diving save and sent two other shots narrowly over the crossbar. Her persistence and skill ultimately paid off, earning her the Player of the Match award. Beyond her offensive contributions, Kosola also demonstrated great effort in defense.

Iceland faced further difficulties as their captain and key defender, Glodis Viggosdottir, was hampered by an injury and had to be substituted at halftime. Viggosdottir had been recovering from a knee injury that had limited her playing time with Bayern Munich. Despite these challenges, Iceland pushed hard in the final minutes, with Jónsdóttir coming close to scoring deep into stoppage time. However, Finland's defense held firm, securing the win.

The victory was particularly significant for Finland, as they had not won a game in their previous two Euro tournaments. This win gives them a strong start in Group A and boosts their chances of advancing in the competition. For Iceland, the defeat was a setback, especially after the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup.

The match was played in challenging conditions, with a heat wave affecting Switzerland. Although the temperature had cooled down to 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) by kickoff, the players still had to contend with the heat. In contrast, Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, experienced much cooler weather at 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius).

Following Finland's win, the tournament continued with host Switzerland facing Norway in Basel. The final will also be held in Basel on July 27. Other notable events include England preparing for their opening game against France and Aitana Bonmati rejoining the Spain squad.