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Finland women's national football team

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Finland
Shirt badge/Association crest
NicknameHelmarit (the Boreal Owls)[1]
AssociationFootball Association
of Finland
(Suomen Palloliitto)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachMarko Saloranta
CaptainTinja-Riikka Korpela
Most capsLinda Sällström (157)[2]
Top scorerLinda Sällström (64)
FIFA codeFIN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 23 Decrease 1 (11 December 2025)[3]
Highest14 (September 2005)
Lowest32 (March 2019)
First international
 Finland 0–0 Sweden 
(Mariehamn, Finland; 25 August 1973)
Biggest win
 Bulgaria 0–8 Finland 
(Lovech, Bulgaria; 21 August 2014)
 Finland 8–0 Hungary 
(Larnaca, Cyprus; 19 February 2023)
Biggest defeat
 Denmark 9–0 Finland 
(Vejen, Denmark; 26 July 1975)
European Championship
Appearances5 (first in 2005)
Best resultSemi-finals (2005)

The Finland women's national football team (Finnish: Suomen naisten jalkapallomaajoukkue, Swedish: Finlands damlandslag i fotboll), also known as nickname The Boreal Owls (Finnish: Helmarit),[1] represents Finland in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Finland (SPL/FBF), reached the semi-finals of the 2005 European Championship, surprising the female football world having drawn with Sweden and beaten Denmark before losing to Germany in the semifinals.[4] Finland hosted the 2009 European Championship.[5]

The Finnish team has had a few players that are considered to be among the best in women's football, such as Laura Österberg Kalmari, Sanna Valkonen and Anne Mäkinen.

As of December 2023, the team is ranked 27th in the FIFA world ranking.[6]

History

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The beginning

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The Finland women's national football team played its first international match in 1973 against Sweden.[7] The game was played in Mariehamn, Åland.

Team image

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Nicknames

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The Finland women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)".[1]

Results and fixtures

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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2025

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21 February 2025 Nations League Serbia  1–0  Finland Stara Pazova
18:00 Damnjanović 43' (pen.) Report Stadium: Serbian FA Sports Center
Attendance: 280
Referee: Michaela Pachtova (Czech Republic)
25 February 2025 Nations League Hungary  0–1  Finland Budapest
Report
Stadium: Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion
Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria)
4 April 2025 Nations League Finland  0–0  Belarus Novara, Italy
Report Stadium: Stadio Silvio Piola [note 1]
Attendance: 0[note 1]
Referee: Emanuela Rusta (Albania)
8 April 2025 Nations League Finland  3–0  Hungary Tampere
 Report Stadium: Tammelan Stadion
Attendance: 4,135
Referee: Angelika Söder (Germany)
30 May 2025 Nations League Belarus  0–3  Finland Szeged
 Stadium: Szent Gellért Fórum
Attendance: 0
Referee: Merima Čelik Bosnia and Herzegovina
3 June 2025 Nations League Finland  1–1  Serbia Helsinki
20:00 Lehtola 71' Roth 84' (o.g.) Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 8,970
Referee: Sandra Bastos (Portugal)
26 June Friendly Netherlands  2–1  Finland Leeuwarden
20:00
Stadium: Kooi Stadion
2 July Euro 2025 Group stage Iceland  0–1  Finland Thun, Switzerland
18:00
Stadium: Stockhorn Arena
Attendance: 7,683
Referee: Katalin Kulcsar
6 July Euro 2025 GS Norway  2–1  Finland Sion, Switzerland
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Stade de Tourbillon
Attendance: 7,376
Referee: Silvia Gasperotti (Italy)
10 July Euro 2025 GS Finland  1–1  Switzerland Geneva, Switzerland
21:00
Report
Stadium: Stade de Genève
Attendance: 26,388
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
24 October 2025 Nations League Play-offs Finland  1–6  Denmark Tampere
19:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Tammelan Stadion
Attendance: 6,474
Referee: Désirée Grundbacher (Switzerland)
28 October 2025 Nations League Play-offs Denmark  2–0  Finland Copenhagen
18:00 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Parken Stadium
Attendance: 14,475
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spain)
27 November Friendly Finland  1–1  Austria Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
19:00 Stadium: Estadio Antonio Gallardo
1 December Friendly Finland  1–1  Belgium Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain
19:00 Sevenius 34' Janssens 12' Stadium: Estadio El Pamar

2026

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3 March 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Portugal  v  Finland
7 March 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Finland  v  Latvia
14 April 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Finland  v  Slovakia
18 April 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Latvia  v  Finland
5 June 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Slovakia  v  Finland
9 June 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Finland  v  Portugal

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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As of October 2024[9][10]

  • Head coach: Marko Saloranta
  • Assistant coaches: Jari Väisänen, Liisa-Maija Rautio
  • Goalkeeping coach: Tommy Nordenswan
  • Fitness coach: Eero Savolainen
  • Psychological coach: Vacant
  • Doctor: Pippa Laukka
  • Physiotherapists: Markus Rosenblad, Sannakaisa Vastamäki
  • Kit managers: Piia Karonen, Alban Saliko
  • Video Analyst: Jouko Kylmäoja
  • Team managers: Outi Saarinen, Sanna Pirhonen
  • Press officers: Eveliina Parikka, Jyri Sulander
  • Media officer: Taru Nyholm

Manager history

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See also: Category:Finland women's national football team managers
As of 2 December 2025
Tenure Coach Record
G W D L Win %
1973–77 Finland Juhani Nirkkonen 12 1 1 10 008.33
1978 Finland Simo Syrjävaara 3 1 1 1 033.33
1979–89 Finland Kaj Österberg 44 13 12 19 029.55
1989–92 Finland Jyrki Nieminen 24 3 4 17 012.50
1993–96 Finland Nils Suomalainen 24 4 5 15 016.67
1996–00 Finland Reima Kokko 46 11 3 32 023.91
2001–09 Finland Michael Käld 107 35 22 50 032.71
2010–16 Sweden Andrée Jeglertz 76 27 13 36 035.53
2017 Finland Marko Saloranta 6 2 0 4 033.33
2017–2022 Sweden Anna Signeul 47 19 11 17 040.43
2022– Finland Marko Saloranta 43 21 11 11 048.84

Players

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Current squad

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The following players were called up for the Friendly matches against Austria and Belgium on 27 November and 1 December 2025, respectively. [11]

Caps and goals correct as of 28 October 2025, after the match against Denmark. [12]
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Anna Koivunen (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 26) 10 0 Swedish Football Association Djurgården
12 1GK Milla-Maj Majasaari (1999-10-15) 15 October 1999 (age 26) 2 0 The Football Association Crystal Palace
23 1GK Katriina Talaslahti (2000-09-21) 21 September 2000 (age 25) 2 0 French Football Federation Dijon
2 2DF Maaria Roth (1997-06-13) 13 June 1997 (age 28) 5 0 Football Association of Finland HJK
3 2DF Eva Nyström (captain) (1999-11-29) 29 November 1999 (age 26) 34 2 The Football Association West Ham United
5 2DF Emma Koivisto (1994-09-25) 25 September 1994 (age 31) 113 7 Italian Football Federation AC Milan
10 2DF Emmi Siren (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 (age 24) 9 0 French Football Federation Dijon
15 2DF Nanne Ruuskanen (2001-11-19) 19 November 2001 (age 24) 2 0 Swedish Football Association Djurgården
16 2DF Nea Lehtola (1998-10-24) 24 October 1998 (age 27) 19 3 Norwegian Football Federation Brann
2DF Jasmin Mansaray (2004-12-27) 27 December 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Norwegian Football Federation LSK Kvinner
4 3MF Ria Öling (1994-09-15) 15 September 1994 (age 31) 98 11 Portuguese Football Federation Braga
7 3MF Adelina Engman (1994-10-11) 11 October 1994 (age 31) 95 12 Italian Football Federation Como
8 3MF Olga Ahtinen (1997-08-15) 15 August 1997 (age 28) 78 4 The Football Association Tottenham Hotspur
9 3MF Katariina Kosola (2001-02-24) 24 February 2001 (age 24) 27 4 Swedish Football Association Malmö FF
11 3MF Vilma Koivisto (2002-11-21) 21 November 2002 (age 23) 11 1 Swedish Football Association Linköping
13 3MF Oona Siren (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 (age 24) 29 1 The Football Association West Ham United
14 3MF Julia Tunturi (1996-04-25) 25 April 1996 (age 29) 28 0 Swedish Football Association Vittsjö
20 3MF Milja Kiviranta (2006-05-15) 15 May 2006 (age 19) 2 0 Football Association of Finland HJK
3MF Eveliina Summanen (1998-05-29) 29 May 1998 (age 27) 79 14 The Football Association Tottenham Hotspur
17 4FW Sanni Franssi (1995-03-19) 19 March 1995 (age 30) 95 7 The Football Association London City Lionesses
19 4FW Lotta Lindström (2004-09-10) 10 September 2004 (age 21) 6 1 The Football Association London City Lionesses
21 4FW Oona Sevenius (2004-04-28) 28 April 2004 (age 21) 30 6 The Football Association Newcastle United
4FW Dana Leskinen (2001-09-22) 22 September 2001 (age 24) 2 0 Swedish Football Association IFK Norrköping
4FW Paulina Nyström (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 25) 0 0 Swedish Football Association Häcken

Recent call-ups

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The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Tinja-Riikka Korpela RET (1986-05-05) 5 May 1986 (age 39) 128 0 Switzerland Servette 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
GK Anna Tamminen (1994-10-30) 30 October 1994 (age 31) 16 0 Sweden Hammarby 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
DF Joanna Tynnilä (2001-09-01) 1 September 2001 (age 24) 26 0 Norway Brann v.  Denmark, 28 October 2025
DF Natalia Kuikka (1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 (age 30) 102 5 United States Chicago Red Stars 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
DF Nora Heroum (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 (age 31) 93 2 Finland HJK 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
DF Elli Pikkujämsä (1999-10-24) 24 October 1999 (age 26) 35 1 United States Racing Louisville v.  Hungary, 8 April 2025
DF Helmi Raijas (2005-05-11) 11 May 2005 (age 20) 1 0 Sweden Växjö v.  Hungary, 8 April 2025
MF Anni Hartikainen (2003-08-19) 19 August 2003 (age 22) 14 1 Sweden Rosengård 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
MF Emma Peuhkurinen ALT (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 (age 26) 12 0 Norway LSK Kvinner 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
MF Tao Stark (2004-08-01) 1 August 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Finland KuPS v.  Hungary, 25 February 2025
MF Emmi Alanen RET (1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 (age 34) 109 22 Sweden Kristianstads DFF v.  Scotland, 3 December 2024
FW Linda Sällström RET (1988-07-13) 13 July 1988 (age 37) 157 64 Sweden Vittsjö GIK v.  Denmark, 28 October 2025
FW Jutta Rantala (1999-11-11) 11 November 1999 (age 26) 36 10 England Leicester City v.  Denmark, 28 October 2025
FW Heidi Kollanen (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 28) 40 3 Sweden Vittsjö GIK 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
FW Lilli Halttunen ALT (2005-07-01) 1 July 2005 (age 20) 5 1 Sweden Linköping 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
FW Aino Kröger ALT (1998-08-28) 28 August 1998 (age 27) 4 0 Finland KuPS 2025 UEFA Women's Euro
Notes
  • ALT = Alternate
  • INJ = Withdrew due to injury
  • RET = Retired from the national team


Records

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See also: Category:Finland women's international footballers

*Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 9 July 2022

Most capped players

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Linda Sällström currently holds the records for both the most appearances and the most goals for the Finland women's national football team.
Rank Player Caps Goals Years
1 Linda Sällström 157 64 2007–2025
2 Anna Westerlund 147 4 2008–2022
3 Laura Österberg Kalmari 130 41 1996–2011
4 Tinja-Riikka Korpela (GK) 128 0 2007–
5 Tuija Hyyrynen 121 3 2007–2022
6 Sanna Valkonen 120 7 1995–2009
7 Anne Mäkinen 118 16 1991–2009
Jessica Julin 4 1997–2009
9 Emmi Alanen 109 22 2010–2025
10 Emma Koivisto 108 7 2012–
11 Anna-Kaisa Rantanen 105 8 1996–2011
12 Sanna Talonen 103 36 2004–2014
13 Katri Mattsson 100 2 1999–2015

Source:[13]

Top goalscorers

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Rank Player Goals Caps Years Avg
1 Linda Sällström 64 157 2007–2025 0,407
2 Laura Österberg Kalmari 41 130 1996–2011 0,315
3 Sanna Talonen 36 103 2004–2014 0,350
4 Emmi Alanen 22 109 2010–2025 0,202
5 Annica Sjölund 17 69 2006–2014 0,246
6 Anne Mäkinen 16 118 1991–2009 0,136
7 Eveliina Summanen 14 73 2017– 0,192
8 Heidi Kackur 12 48 1999–2005 0,250
Adelina Engman 12 93 2012– 0,129
10 Maija Saari 11 94 2007–2016 0,117
Ria Öling 11 91 2015– 0,121
12 Jutta Rantala 10 31 2020– 0,323

Source:[13]

Competitive record

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FIFA Women's World Cup

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FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD Round GP W D* L GF GA GD
China 1991 Did not qualify UEFA Euro 1991
Sweden 1995 UEFA Euro 1995
United States 1999 Play-offs 8 3 1 4 8 9 −1
United States 2003 Group 2 6 1 0 5 4 24 −20
China 2007 Group 3 8 5 1 2 16 5 +11
Germany 2011 Group 7 8 6 1 1 25 6 +19
Canada 2015 Group 7 10 7 0 3 27 9 +18
France 2019 Group 7 8 3 1 4 9 13 −4
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 Group A 8 3 1 4 14 12 −10
Brazil 2027 To be determined To be determined
Costa RicaJamaicaMexicoUnited States 2031 To be determined To be determined
United Kingdom 2035 To be determined To be determined
Total - - - - - - - - Round 56 28 5 23 103 78 +13
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games

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Summer Olympics record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA
United States 1996 Did not qualify
Australia 2000
Greece 2004
China 2008
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 2016
Japan 2020
France 2024 Unable to qualify[a]
United States 2028 To be determined
Australia 2032
Total - - - - - - -

UEFA Women's Championship

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Main article: Finland at the UEFA Women's Championship
UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result P W D* L GF GA GD Round P W D* L GF GA GD P/R Rnk
1984 Did not qualify Group 1 6 2 0 4 5 17 −12 –
Norway 1987 Group 1 6 1 2 3 2 6 −4
West Germany 1989 Group 1 6 1 2 3 9 11 −2
Denmark 1991 Group 3 6 1 2 3 3 6 −3
Italy 1993 Group 2 4 0 2 2 3 12 −9
Germany 1995 Group 1 6 2 3 1 8 7 +1
Norway Sweden 1997 Play-offs 8 1 1 6 2 24 −22
Germany 2001 Play-offs 8 2 0 6 8 21 −13
England 2005 Semi-finals 4 1 1 2 5 8 −3 Play-offs 10 4 4 2 16 7 +9 –
Finland 2009 Quarter-finals 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 Qualified as host
Sweden 2013 Group stage 3 0 2 1 1 6 −5 Group 5 8 6 1 1 22 4 +18 –
Netherlands 2017 Did not qualify Group 2 8 4 1 3 17 12 +5
England 2022 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 Group E 8 7 1 0 24 2 +22
Switzerland 2025 Group stage 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 Play-offs 10 4 3 3 12 12 0 Fall[b] 13th
Germany 2029 To be determined To be determined
Total 5/14 17 4 4 9 15 30 −15 Total 94 35 22 37 131 141 −10 13th
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Nations League

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UEFA Women's Nations League record
Season Division Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R Rnk
2023–24 B 2 1st 6 5 1 0 18 2 Rise 18th
2025 B 3 2nd 8 3 2 3 9 10 Same position* 23rd
Total 14 8 1 3 27 12 18th and 23rd
Rise Promoted at end of season
Same position No movement at end of season
Fall Relegated at end of season
* Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs

Pinatar Cup

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Pinatar Cup record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
2024 Champions 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1
Total 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1

Cyprus Women's Cup

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Cyprus Women's Cup record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
2012 7th place 4 1 1 2 6 7 −1
2013 7th place 4 1 1 2 5 6 −1
2014 12th place 4 0 1 3 1 8 −7
2015 9th place 4 1 1 2 3 7 −4
2016 8th place 4 0 1 3 3 8 −5
2018 11th place 4 1 1 2 4 7 −3
2019 9th place 4 1 1 2 3 6 −3
2020 Runners-up 3 1 1 1 7 6 +1
2023 Champions 3 3 0 0 16 1 +15
Total 34 9 8 17 48 56 −8

Algarve Cup

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Algarve Cup record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
1994 6th place 3 0 0 3 0 9 −9
1995 6th place 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3
1996 8th place 4 0 0 4 1 15 −14
1997 6th place 4 1 0 3 3 8 −5
1998 8th place 4 0 0 4 2 6 −4
1999 8th place 4 0 1 3 1 7 −6
2000 7th place 4 1 0 3 5 8 −3
2001 7th place 4 1 0 3 4 15 −11
2002 7th place 4 1 0 3 4 8 −5
2003 6th place 4 0 2 2 0 6 −6
2004 9th place 4 1 0 3 6 10 −4
2005 10th place 4 0 0 4 3 10 −7
2006 7th place 4 1 1 2 5 12 −7
2007 6th place 4 1 0 3 2 6 −4
2008 8th place 4 0 0 4 1 10 −9
2009 7th place 4 1 0 3 1 5 −4
2010 8th place 4 0 1 3 2 11 −9
2011 10th place 4 0 0 4 2 13 −11
Total

Nordic Football Championship

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Women's Nordic Football Championship record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
Finland 1974 Third place 2 0 0 2 0 6 −6
Denmark 1975 Third place 2 0 0 2 0 13 −13
Sweden 1976 Third place 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4
Finland 1977 Third place 2 0 0 2 0 5 −5
Denmark 1978 Third place 3 1 1 1 1 4 −3
Norway 1979 Third place 3 1 1 1 2 5 −3
Sweden 1980 Fourth place 3 0 2 1 1 8 −7
Finland 1981 Runners-up 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1
Denmark 1982 Fourth place 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5
Total 9/9 23 3 6 14 9 56 −47

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Finland was unable to qualify since Finland was in the “League B” at the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League.
  2. ^ From Euro 2025 onwards a new qualifying format was introduced, linked to the Women's Nations League where teams are divided into leagues with promotion/relegation between the leagues at the end of each cycle.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Helmarit nimetty MM-karsinta-avaukseen Serbiaa vastaan" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Linda Sällström". palloliitto.fi (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  3. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  4. ^ UEFA.com. "Season 2005 Matches | UEFA Women's EURO". UEFA. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Women's Euro 2009 in Finland". Embassy of Finland. 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Finland". FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Naisten jalkapallomaajoukkueen taival on puolivuosisatainen – jo alussa mentiin sisulla ja yhteispelillä". Hämeen Sanomat. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Yle ei näytä Suomen maaotteluita Valko-Venäjää vastaan – Ottelut pyritään näyttämään Palloliiton Youtube-kanavalla" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Helmarit - Joukkue" (in Finnish). Finnish Football Federation. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  10. ^ Helmareiden taustaryhmään muutoksia, Football Association of Finland, 30 January 2025
  11. ^ "Helmarit nimetty Itävalta- ja Belgia-otteluihin" [Helmarit named for Austria and Belgium matches] (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto / Finnish Football Association. 19 November 2025.
  12. ^ Finnish Squad
  13. ^ a b "Finland – Women International Player Records". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).Published 8 October 2019, retrieved and Updated data 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  1. ^ a b Due to the Belarusian involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine Finland will not host Belarus. The match is played at neutral venue behind closed doors.[8]
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