Latvia’s women’s national team is gearing up for two high-stakes clashes in the UEFA Women’s Nations League C division, with head coach Liene Vāciete announcing her squad for the final home fixtures of the campaign. The matches will take place at LNK Sporta Parks in Riga, with North Macedonia visiting on May 30, followed by a crucial encounter against Kosovo on June 3.
Latvia enjoyed a flawless start to the campaign earlier this year, securing two away wins—a gritty 1–0 victory in Kosovo and a 2–1 triumph in North Macedonia. With six points from two matches, Latvia tops the group and now has promotion firmly within reach.
The squad list features several notable changes. Goalkeeper Madara Matrevica (FS Metta) earns her first national team call-up since 2022 and could be in line for her debut. She’s joined by two other newcomers: midfielder Alīna Ansone (RFS Women) and forward Evelīna Jaunslaviete (FK Auda). Also making her return is Monika Estere Štube (Bradford City FC), the England-based midfielder who last featured in 2023, along with Aleksandra Sofija Mairna (Michigan State University), who’s back in the fold. Missing from the lineup due to injury are Diāna Suvitra and Anastasija Poļuhoviča.
A special moment awaits on May 30: Anastasija Ročāne, Latvia’s longtime captain and stalwart defender, will be honored for becoming the first player in Latvian women’s football history to reach 100 international caps—a historic milestone for the national program.
In the competition format, group winners from League C earn direct promotion to League B. Meanwhile, the two best second-place teams across all groups (ranked 39th and 40th overall) will contest playoff matches in October against third-place finishers from League B groups for a chance to move up.
This is just the second season of UEFA Women’s Nations League action. In the inaugural edition in 2023, Latvia finished second in their group behind Malta but ahead of Andorra and Moldova. That earned them a promotion playoff, where they fell to a dominant Slovakia side. As a result, they remained in League C for the 2024 UEFA European Championship qualifiers—where they outpaced North Macedonia and Moldova but couldn’t get past Slovenia.
Now, all eyes are on this Nations League campaign, which will determine each national team’s league placement for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification cycle. Latvia’s goal? Secure that promotion—and prove they’re ready for the next level.
Tickets are available via the Latvian Football Federation’s website.
