Finland women's national football team

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.[3] Finland hosted the 2009 European Championship.[4]

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Finland national football team.

Finland
Nickname(s)Helmarit (the Boreal Owls)[1]
AssociationFootball Association
of Finland
(Suomen Palloliitto)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachMarko Saloranta
CaptainTinja-Riikka Korpela
Most capsAnna Westerlund (145)
Top scorerLinda Sällström (59)
FIFA codeFIN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 26 1 (14 June 2024)[2]
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
Appearances4 (first in 2005)
Best resultSemi-finals (2005)

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.[5]

History

The beginning

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

Team image

Nicknames

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

Results and fixtures

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

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023
14 July Friendly Iceland  1–2  Finland
18 July Friendly Finland  1–2  Scotland
23 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Finland  4–0  Slovakia Turku
17:30 (18:30 EEST) Sällström 5'
Rantala 23'
Kosola 45', 75'		 Report Stadium: Veritas Stadion
Attendance: 5,062
Referee: Michèle Schmölzer (Switzerland)
26 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Romania  0–1  Finland Bucharest
18:00 Report Stadium: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf
Referee: Angelika Soeder (Germany)
27 October 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Finland  3–0  Croatia Helsinki
17:45
Report Stadium: Bolt Arena
Referee: Désirée Grundbacher (Switzerland)
31 October 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Croatia  0–2  Finland Šibenik
18:00 Report
Stadium: Stadion Šubićevac
Referee: Teresa Oliveira (Portugal)
30 November 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Finland  6–0  Romania Turku
17:45 Report Stadium: Veritas Stadion
5 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Slovakia  2–2  Finland Trnava
Report Stadium: Anton Malatinský Stadium

2024
21 February Friendly Finland  4–0  Philippines San Pedro del Pinatar
 Report Stadium: Pinatar Arena
24 February 2024 Pinatar Cup SF Slovenia  0–1  Finland San Pedro del Pinatar
Stadium: Pinatar Arena
27 February 2024 Pinatar Cup Final Scotland  1–1
(4–5 p)		  Finland San Pedro del Pinatar
Stadium: Pinatar Arena
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying Norway  4–0  Finland Oslo
18:00  Report Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion
Referee: Catarina Campos (Portugal)
9 April Euro 2025 qualifying Finland  2–1  Italy Helsinki
18:15  Report Stadium: Helsinki Football Stadium
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spain)
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying Netherlands  1–0  Finland Rotterdam
20:45  Beerensteyn 65' Report Stadium: Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel
Attendance: 9,089
Referee: Frida Klarlund (Denmark)
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying Finland  1–1  Netherlands Tampere
18:00
Report
Stadium: Tammelan Stadion
Attendance: 7,677
Referee: Sandra Bastos (Portugal)
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying Finland  v  Norway
Report
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying Italy  v  Finland Bolzano
19:00 Report Stadium: Stadio Druso

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of August 2022

  • Head coach: Marko Saloranta
  • Assistant coach: Marianne Miettinen
  • Assistant coach: Mika Sankala
  • Assistant coach: Ann-Helen Grahm
  • Goalkeeping coach: Aki Moilanen

Manager history
As of 21 February 2024
Tenure Coach Record
G W D L Win %
1973–77 Juhani Nirkkonen 121110008.33
1978 Simo Syrjävaara 3111033.33
1979–89 Kaj Österberg 44131219029.55
1989–92 Jyrki Nieminen 243417012.50
1993–96 Nils Suomalainen 244515016.67
1996–00 Reima Kokko 4611332023.91
2001–09 Michael Käld 107352250032.71
2010–16 Andrée Jeglertz 76271336035.53
2017 Marko Saloranta 6204033.33
2017–2022 Anna Signeul 47191117040.43
2022– Marko Saloranta 171223070.59

Players

Current squad

Stats after match with Scotland on 18 July 2023.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
23 1GK Tinja-Riikka Korpela (captain) (1986-05-05) 5 May 1986 115 0 AS Roma
1GK Anna Koivunen (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 0 IF Brommapojkarna
1GK Milla-Maj Majasaari (1999-10-15) 15 October 1999 1 0 Anderlecht
5 2DF Emma Koivisto (1994-09-25) 25 September 1994 78 3 Liverpool
2DF Joanna Tynnilä (2001-09-01) 1 September 2001 3 0 Brann
15 2DF Natalia Kuikka (1995-12-01) 1 December 1995 71 3 Chicago Red Stars
3 2DF Eva Nyström (1999-11-29) 29 November 1999 8 0 Hammarby
11 2DF Nora Heroum (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994 84 1 Parma
2DF Nea Lehtola (1998-10-24) 24 October 1998 2 0 Brøndby IF
4 3MF Ria Öling (1994-09-15) 15 September 1994 62 9 Rosengård
3MF Olga Ahtinen (1997-08-15) 15 August 1997 55 3 Tottenham Hotspur
3MF Emmi Siren (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 3 0 Nordsjælland
3MF Oona Siren (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 3 0 Lillestrøm
3MF Eveliina Summanen (1998-05-29) 29 May 1998 53 11 Tottenham Hotspur
3MF Vilma Koivisto (2002-11-21) 21 November 2002 6 1 Linköpings
3MF Anni Hartikainen (2003-08-19) 19 August 2003 0 0 Rosengård
18 4FW Linda Sällström (1988-07-13) 13 July 1988 120 51 Vittsjö GIK
22 4FW Jutta Rantala (1999-11-11) 11 November 1999 17 5 Leicester City
4FW Lotta Lindström (2004-09-10) 10 September 2004 2 0 London City Lionesses
4FW Dana Leskinen (2001-09-22) 22 September 2001 1 0 1. FC Nürnberg
4FW Heidi Kollanen (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 19 2 Vittsjö GIK
17 4FW Sanni Franssi (1995-03-19) 19 March 1995 60 4 Real Sociedad
4FW Oona Sevenius (2004-04-28) 28 April 2004 2 0 Como

Recent call ups

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

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Katriina Talaslahti (2000-09-21) 21 September 2000 2 0 Le Havre
GK Anna Tamminen (1994-10-30) 30 October 1994 6 0 Hammarby v.  Italy, 9 April 2024
DF Tuuli Viinikka (2004-10-27) 27 October 2004 0 KuPS v.  Slovakia, 5 December 2023
DF Elli Pikkujämsä (1999-10-24) 24 October 1999 23 1 Racing Louisville v.  Italy, 9 April 2024
DF Tiia Peltonen (1995-06-08) 8 June 1995 7 0 Fortuna Hjørring v.  Italy, 9 April 2024
MF Emmi Alanen (1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 101 21 Kristianstads DFF v.  Slovakia, 5 December 2023
MF Aada Nurmi (2003-03-12) 12 March 2003 0 KuPS v.  Slovakia, 5 December 2023
MF Emma Peuhkurinen (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 5 0 Lillestrøm v.  Italy, 9 April 2024
MF Katariina Kosola (2001-02-24) 24 February 2001 8 1 Häcken v.  Italy, 9 April 2024

Records

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

Most capped players
Rank Player Caps Goals Years
1 Anna Westerlund 145 4 2008–
2 Linda Sällström 132 57 2007–
3 Laura Österberg Kalmari 130 41 1996–2011
4 Tuija Hyyrynen 121 3 2007–
5 Sanna Valkonen 120 7 1995–2009
6 Anne Mäkinen 118 16 1991–2009
Jessica Julin 4 1997–2009
8 Tinja-Riikka Korpela (GK) 109 0 2007–
9 Anna-Kaisa Rantanen 105 8 1996–2011
10 Sanna Talonen 103 36 2004–2014
11 Katri Mattsson 100 2 1999–2015

Source:[7]

Top goalscorers
Rank Player Goals Caps Years Avg
1 Linda Sällström 57 132 2007– 0,425
2 Laura Österberg Kalmari 41 130 1996–2011 0,315
3 Sanna Talonen 36 103 2004–2014 0,35
4 Emmi Alanen 21 97 2010– 0,216
5 Annica Sjölund 17 69 2006–2014 0,246
6 Anne Mäkinen 16 118 1991–2009 0,136
7 Heidi Kackur 12 48 1999–2005 0,25
Adelina Engman 12 85 2012– 0,141
9 Maija Saari 11 94 2007–2016 0,117
10 Ria Öling 9 62 2015– 0,145
11 Anu Toikka 8 29 1979–1992 0,276
Susanna Heikari 8 44 1994–2002 0,182
Anna-Kaisa Rantanen 8 105 1996–2011 0,076

Source:[7]

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD GP W D* L GF GA GD
1991Did not qualify UEFA Euro 1991
1995 UEFA Euro 1995
1999 831489−1
2003 6105424−20
2007 8512165+11
2011 8611256+19
2015 10703279+18
2019 8314913−4
2023 83141412−10
2027To be determined To be determined
Total-------- 562852310378+13
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games
Summer Olympics record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA
1996Did not qualify
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024Unable to qualify
2028To be determined
2032
Total-------

UEFA Women's Championship
UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD GP W D* L GF GA GD
1984Did not qualify 6204517−12
1987 612326−4
1989 6123911−2
1991 612336−3
1993 4022312−9
1995 623187+1
1997 8116224−22
2001 8206821−13
2005Semi-finals411258−3 10442167+9
2009Quarter-finals4202550 Qualified as host
2013Group stage302116−5 8611224+18
2017Did not qualify 84131712+5
2022Group stage300318−7 8710242+22
2025
Total4/13143381227−15 84311934119129−10
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Nations League
UEFA Women's Nations League record
Season Division Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2023–24 B 2 1st651018218th
2025–26 A To be determined
Total 18th

Pinatar Cup
Pinatar Cup record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
2024Champions211021+1
Total211021+1

Cyprus Women's Cup
Cyprus Women's Cup record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
20127th place411267−1
20137th place411256−1
201412th place401318−7
20159th place411237−4
20168th place401338−5
201811th place411247−3
20199th place411236−3
2020Runners-up311176+1
2023Champions3300161+15
Total3498174856−8

Algarve Cup
Algarve Cup record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
19946th place300309−9
19956th place410336−3
19968th place4004115−14
19976th place410338−5
19988th place400426−4
19998th place401317−6
20007th place410358−3
20017th place4103415−11
20027th place410348−5
20036th place402206−6
20049th place4103610−4
200510th place4004310−7
20067th place4112512−7
20076th place410326−4
20088th place4004110−9
20097th place410315−4
20108th place4013211−9
201110th place4004213−11
Total

Nordic Football Championship
Women's Nordic Football Championship record
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
1974Third place200206−6
1975Third place2002013−13
1976Third place200215−4
1977Third place200205−5
1978Third place311114−3
1979Third place311125−3
1980Fourth place302118−7
1981Runners-up311134−1
1982Fourth place301216−5
Total9/9233614956−47

See also

References
  1. "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. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. UEFA.com. "Season 2005 Matches | UEFA Women's EURO". UEFA.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  4. "Women's Euro 2009 in Finland". Embassy of Finland. 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  5. "Finland". FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  6. "Helmareiden avauskokoonpano Hollannissa" (in Finnish). Football Federation. 28 May 2024.
  7. "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.
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