Denmark’s women’s national team will compete against Finland in two playoff matches this October to avoid relegation from the top tier of the Women’s Nations League. The draw, which determined the playoff matchups, took place on Friday.

The Danish team, led by Pernille Harder, secured third place in their Nations League group, trailing behind Sweden and Italy. Consequently, they must now fight to maintain their position in the league’s top division.

These crucial matches will mark the beginning of Jakob Michelsen’s tenure as the women’s national coach. He succeeds Andrée Jeglertz following the European Championship in Switzerland this summer. Michelsen, previously with Sønderjyske and OB, was introduced on Wednesday with a contract extending until the end of 2028. The agreement will automatically extend to the summer of 2029 should the team qualify for the European Championship.

The first leg of the playoff against Finland is scheduled to take place in Finland on October 24, followed by the return match in Denmark four days later. The team will be aiming to secure their place in the top tier of the Nations League under their new coach.