England's highly anticipated Women's Euro 2025 qualifier against Italy has been called off after severe flooding rendered the pitch unplayable at Stadio Friuli in Udine.
Torrential rainfall in northeastern Italy caused significant waterlogging on the playing surface just hours before Tuesday night's scheduled kick-off. UEFA officials made the decision to postpone the match following a late pitch inspection.
New Date Under Discussion
European football's governing body confirmed both national associations are now in talks to rearrange the fixture. The match represents a crucial encounter in Group A3 of the qualifying tournament.
England currently sit second in their qualification group after suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat to France last Friday. The postponement comes as a blow to manager Sarina Wiegman's preparations as her side seeks to bounce back from their opening loss.
Stadium Conditions Worsen
Pictures from the Italian venue showed large sections of the pitch completely submerged under water, with ground staff battling in vain to clear the standing water. The extreme weather follows similar disruptions affecting men's Serie A matches in the region this season.
UEFA stated: "Following consultation with both teams and local authorities, the decision was taken to postpone due to player safety concerns and the unplayable surface conditions."
Travel Disruption for Fans
The late cancellation caused significant inconvenience for travelling England supporters, many of whom had already made the journey to northeastern Italy. The Football Association is working with UEFA to ensure tickets remain valid for the rescheduled fixture.
England's next scheduled qualifier sees them host Republic of Ireland at Norwich's Carrow Road on 12 July, while Italy face group leaders France in their next outing.
