Alex Ibaceta

Barcelona Femení faces a second consecutive summer of major departures, losing star players including Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle and Mapi León due to the club’s ongoing financial fair play constraints tied to the men’s team. Only one new signing has arrived amid a thinning squad, forcing reliance on academy players despite many of them also leaving. With limited reinforcements, several key positions look vulnerable, raising concerns about the team’s ability to sustain success after winning all major trophies last season.

At 19, Vicky López has become a record-breaking Barcelona winger after joining the club at 16. She has made more than 120 appearances, scored 32 goals and is approaching a fourth Liga F title and 11th trophy. López reflects on overcoming shyness, adapting to elite football and the loss of her mother, whom she honors after scoring. She credits former coach Jonatan Giráldez with giving her early opportunities and describes the value of combining youthful players with experienced leaders such as Alexia Putellas. López is also an established Spain international and is viewed as part of Barcelona’s future as veteran stars eventually leave.

Barcelona’s women’s team endured a damaging summer transfer window because La Liga’s club-wide salary limits and the wider financial crisis affecting FC Barcelona restricted recruitment and retention. Six players left for the Women’s Super League, Alba Caño will join Boston Legacy FC, and the club made only one signing, Laia Aleixandri. Several young players and established figures including Fridolina Rolfö departed, while Barcelona received no fee for Rolfö and paid to terminate her contract. The squad has been reduced to 17 senior players, with limited cover in key positions, making another Champions League triumph difficult despite the possibility of domestic success. The club also faces the prospect of losing up to nine players next summer and Alexia Putellas the following year, placing its dominance in women’s football at risk.

England’s preparations for the Women’s Euro 2025 final against Spain focus on Lauren James’s ankle injury, with Sarina Wiegman uncertain whether the Chelsea forward will be fit. Ella Toone and Keira Walsh say England are blocking out external pressure and hope Spain can enjoy a controversy-free final, two years after the World Cup final was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales’s conduct toward Jenni Hermoso. England and Spain have split their recent meetings, while England will have an extra recovery day before Sunday’s match in Basel. The tournament has already set a record attendance of 623,088, with 104 goals scored. The live coverage also reports new WSL and WSL2 fixtures, an expanded trial allowing alcohol in view of the pitch, a proposed Sunday noon television slot, and transfer developments involving Viktor Gyökeres, Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and James Trafford.

Patri Guijarro is portrayed as the essential, underappreciated third element in Spain’s midfield alongside Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. Her versatility allows her to contribute as both a defensive pivot and attacking midfielder, while her pressing, positioning, passing and ball recovery create space for Spain’s forwards and playmakers. Her performances at Euro 2025, including a goal against Italy and a key role in the semifinal win over Germany, demonstrate her importance to Spain’s success and could strengthen her claim for greater individual recognition.

Spain reached their first European Championship final by defeating Germany 1-0 in extra time in Zurich, with Aitana Bonmatí scoring in the 113th minute. The discussion examines Spain's composure, Bonmatí's influence and Cata Coll's goalkeeping, while considering Germany's difficult campaign and period of transition. It also previews Sunday's final against England, a World Cup rematch, and considers whether Spain's patience and squad depth can deliver another major trophy.

A Women’s Football Weekly podcast reviews Spain’s emphatic 6–0 victory over Belgium, while considering Spain’s defensive vulnerabilities and Belgium’s spirited showing. Portugal’s late equaliser against Italy keeps its quarter-final hopes alive. Norway qualify first for the last eight, Switzerland eliminate Iceland in front of their home fans, and Finland emerge as a potential dark horse ahead of a decisive Switzerland clash. The panel also previews must-win matches for England and Wales and discusses the latest from the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Barcelona enter the Women’s Champions League final against Arsenal as favourites while seeking a third consecutive title and a second straight quadruple. Although defeats by Manchester City and twice in Liga F prompted criticism during Pere Romeu’s first season as manager, Barcelona responded by beating Wolfsburg 10-2 on aggregate and Chelsea 8-2 across the semi-final. Caroline Graham Hansen says the campaign has been emotionally demanding but believes the team has improved and performed in crucial matches. Arsenal, strengthened by a strong semi-final win over Lyon, share Barcelona’s possession-based style and pose a serious challenge. Ewa Pajor’s arrival has added a dynamic central striker, while Romeu has been praised for managing a fatigued squad after the Olympics.

Ewa Pajor discusses adapting to Barcelona’s possession-based style after nine seasons at Wolfsburg, where she scored 136 goals in 196 matches. She has already scored 34 goals in 32 games for Barcelona and faces her former club in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. Pajor credits former Wolfsburg teammates at Barcelona for easing her transition, while highlighting the demands of playing against deep defensive lines. She also reflects on Poland’s first qualification for the European Championship and hopes the national team’s progress will help professionalize and expand women’s football in Poland. Her major ambition is to win the Champions League with Barcelona.

Catalina “Cata” Coll progressed from an ACL injury in 2022 and limited competitive experience to becoming the first-choice goalkeeper for Barcelona and Spain. She made Spain’s 2023 World Cup squad, debuted in the knockout stage and helped the team win the final against England, then displaced Sandra Paños at Barcelona while contributing to a highly successful club season. Coll embraces Barcelona’s risk-taking, possession-based style despite high-profile mistakes and believes goalkeepers should remain true to their identity. As experienced women’s goalkeepers approach retirement, she is also helping develop the next generation through a football school in her home town of Pòrtol, Mallorca.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation is negotiating with Saudi Arabia to host the women’s Supercopa there, alongside the men’s competition, potentially through 2034. Barcelona players Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas and Cata Coll oppose the proposal, citing Saudi Arabia’s record on women’s rights, financial pressure on players and reported harassment of Mallorca players’ families during the men’s tournament. RFEF president Rafael Louzán argues that hosting the event could help develop women’s football in Saudi Arabia, while other Spanish football figures have expressed resignation or concern.

Barcelona head coach Jonatan Giráldez reflects on three highly successful seasons in an exclusive interview before the Women’s Champions League final against Lyon. He has won nine of the 11 trophies available since taking charge, helped Barcelona reach four consecutive Champions League finals, and attributes the team’s progress partly to a culture of competitiveness. Giráldez explains how injuries, departures and changes in player roles forced him to continually adjust Barcelona’s defensive and attacking tactics. He also discusses the semifinal comeback against Chelsea and argues that Barcelona are now better equipped to handle intense pressing. The final represents a chance to overcome Lyon, Barcelona’s long-standing Champions League nemesis, and complete a historic quadruple before Giráldez leaves to manage Washington Spirit in the United States.

Caroline Graham Hansen reflects on joining Barcelona from Wolfsburg in 2019 despite criticism that the move represented a career step down. Since then, she has helped the club win four league titles, two Champions Leagues and several domestic trophies while becoming one of the team’s leading scorers and assist providers. She argues that Barcelona’s playing style and investment have raised standards across women’s football, while emphasizing that on-pitch quality matters more than awards, social-media visibility or comparisons with the men’s game. Hansen is far less satisfied with Norway’s recent results but hopes new coach Gemma Grainger can help the team become competitive again.

Aitana Bonmatí discusses her development from playing with boys in Catalonia to becoming a central figure for Barcelona and Spain. She credits resilience, discipline and relentless work rather than luck for her success, describing the difficulties of limited opportunities, changing teams and initially struggling for playing time with Barcelona's first team. Bonmatí says winning the 2021 Champions League marked a turning point, while the 2023 World Cup and Barcelona's support helped accelerate recognition and improve conditions in women's football. Despite winning the World Cup, Champions League and domestic honors, she remains motivated by the prospect of winning a European Championship or Olympic medal and hopes to be remembered both as an excellent footballer and as someone who inspired people and contributed to social change.

Luis Rubiales resigned as president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and as a UEFA vice-president after the backlash over kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent following Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory. The resignation statement contained no apology or acknowledgment of wrongdoing and framed his departure as necessary to protect Spanish football’s bid to host the 2030 men’s World Cup. The article argues that his exit does not represent meaningful support for women’s football and that broader institutional change is still needed. Rubiales remains suspended by FIFA and faces possible legal consequences after complaints alleging sexual assault and coercion.

Spanish football reporter Alex Ibaceta explains how Jorge Vilda was dismissed one month after leading Spain to victory in the 2023 Women's World Cup. The video links his downfall to months of tension with the players and to the suspension of Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales.

Aitana Bonmatí has emerged as Spain's leading player during their run to the 2023 Women's World Cup final against England. The Barcelona midfielder's technical ability, work rate, increased goal contribution and leadership have become especially important amid Alexia Putellas's injury and the absence of players involved in the protest against coach Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation. Developed through Barcelona's La Masia system, Bonmatí credits the club's shared experience and improved mentality for Spain's progress, while her performances have drawn strong praise from Xavi Hernández and teammate Fridolina Rolfö.