Swiss Women’s National Team Suffers Heavy 7:1 Defeat In Friendly Against Luzern U-15 Boys.
Nottwil, Switzerland – The Switzerland women’s national football team, ranked 23rd in the world, faced a humbling 7-1 defeat against FC Luzern’s Under-15 boys’ team in a behind-closed-doors friendly match, as they prepare to host the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, according to reports from Swiss media.
The match, held in Nottwil, was intended as a preparatory fixture ahead of the European Championship, which kicks off on 2 July. Swiss outlet Blick reported that the Swiss Football Association (SFA) had hoped to keep the result under wraps, but the scoreline was inadvertently revealed by a young Luzern player via a now-deleted TikTok post, which garnered approximately 70,000 views before its removal.
According to reports, the Swiss side, managed by Pia Sundhage, fielded a second-string squad, utilising 28 players, including their third-choice goalkeeper, Nadine Böhi, who reportedly played for Luzern in one half of the 90-minute match. Notable absences included captain Lia Wälti, with the team focusing on testing game principles and physical conditioning rather than the result.
The Swiss team took an early lead through a goal by Alayah Pilgrim, but the Luzern U15s responded emphatically, scoring seven unanswered goals to secure a resounding victory. Sven Micossé, head of communications for the Swiss women’s national team, defended the choice of opponent, stating to Blick, “It’s not uncommon in women’s football to compete against junior teams. The focus during this phase of preparation is on the physical aspect.”
Midfielder Leila Wandeler echoed this sentiment, telling Blick, “The result didn’t matter. For us, it was about testing our game principles.” The match was part of a series of friendlies against youth teams, with Switzerland previously securing a 2-1 win over FC Biel’s U15 side but suffering a 2-1 defeat to FC Solothurn’s U15s.
The defeat has sparked debate, with some posts on X questioning the competitiveness of women’s sports, while others highlighted the physical advantages of male youth players. One user remarked, “The Switzerland women’s national team (ranked 23rd in the world) lost 7-1 in a friendly match against Luzern’s U15 boys team,” prompting discussions about the role of such matches in women’s football preparation.
Despite the setback, the Swiss team remains focused on their upcoming Euro 2025 campaign, where they will face Norway, Iceland, and Finland in Group A. The hosts are scheduled to play another friendly against Czechia on Thursday before their tournament opener against Norway at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
Swiss media have urged fans to view the result in context, with Blick labelling it “a 1:7 that has no meaning” and criticising the SFA’s initial secrecy as counterproductive. The team, featuring players like Juventus star Alisha Lehmann, is determined to move forward and make the nation proud at the home Euros, with Lehmann posting on Instagram, “Work work work,” reflecting her focus on preparation.
