England head coach Sarina Wiegman has named her 25-player squad for the opening fixtures of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign against Ukraine and Iceland next month.
These fixtures mark the start of a crucial year for the Lionesses as they aim to secure a spot in Brazil next summer and continue building on their recent European success.
After the Euro 2025 triumph, Wiegman has faced a challenging start to the year due to injuries affecting key players.
Despite this, she has been able to assemble a squad that blends experienced leaders, emerging talent, and players returning to full fitness, giving England a balanced group as they begin the competitive phase of World Cup qualification.
Key Returns
Several experienced players are back in the squad following injuries. Captain Leah Williamson returns after missing friendlies against China, Ghana, and Australia, as well as the defeat to Brazil at the end of 2025, due to a knee injury.
Williamson, 28, has already lifted another trophy with Arsenal this season, linking up with captain Kim Little during the Women’s Champions Cup celebrations, and she brings her leadership and composure back to the England defensive line.
Forward Lauren James is also back after a four-month absence due to an ankle injury. The 24-year-old Chelsea forward impressed during her recent return in the WSL, showing her pace, technical ability, and finishing instincts.
Her inclusion significantly strengthens England’s attacking options, particularly with Beth Mead sidelined with a fractured shin.
Defenders Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood are available again after missing part of the season due to international and injury commitments, while goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has fully recovered from a thigh injury that kept her out of the November friendlies.
Together, these returning players form a strong spine of experienced leadership, giving Wiegman stability at the back and in goal.
First Senior Call-Up
One of the standout developments in this squad is the first senior call-up for Poppy Pattinson, a 25-year-old left-back who plays her club football for London City Lionesses.
Pattinson has represented England at every youth level and previously played for Manchester City, Everton, and Brighton, making her familiar with top-level football.
Her inclusion reflects Wiegman’s confidence in her potential and her ability to step into the senior setup, while also providing added depth in the full-back positions, an area that has been highlighted as a challenge for England in recent campaigns.
Players Recently Returning From Injury
England have also included players who have only recently returned to match fitness. Midfielder Lucia Kendall of Aston Villa came off the bench for 28 minutes in Villa’s 7-3 defeat to Tottenham, marking her first appearance in five weeks after a thigh injury.
Arsenal defender Taylor Hinds is back from a recent ankle injury and provides additional options at full-back. Both players’ recalls illustrate Wiegman’s focus on balancing returning talent with the need for competitive match sharpness as England prepare for qualifying.
Unavailable Players
While the squad benefits from multiple returns, several notable players are missing due to injury or selection decisions.
Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley and West Ham defender Anouk Denton, who earned her first call-up in November, are absent.
Other regulars unavailable due to injury include Niamh Charles, Missy Bo Kearns, Ella Toone, and Beth Mead, while Michelle Agyemang, Ella Morris, and Katie Reid are sidelined with ACL injuries.
Despite these absences, Wiegman has retained a strong squad that mixes experience, youth, and players returning to form, ensuring England have both quality and versatility across positions.
Scouting and Squad Strategy
Wiegman has been actively scouting WSL matches in recent weeks to assess players and determine squad selections.
She was in attendance at Arsenal’s Champions Cup victory, watching Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, and Lotte Wubben-Moy in action.
The England boss also saw Arsenal beat Manchester City, allowing her to monitor Lauren Hemp, Laura Blindkilde Brown, Grace Clinton, and Alex Greenwood.
Most recently, Wiegman watched Manchester United defeat London City Lionesses, observing Jess Park score a brilliant solo goal and seeing Freya Godfrey and Poppy Pattinson perform well, which helped secure Pattinson’s first senior call-up.
This hands-on approach ensures Wiegman can blend experienced leaders with emerging talent, while also assessing players returning from injury for fitness and form.
The squad reflects a strategic balance between leadership, quality, youth, and versatility, positioning England to start the World Cup qualifying campaign strongly.
This squad represents a carefully curated mix of experience, youth, and returning stars, giving England the best chance to secure direct qualification to Brazil 2027 while continuing to build on their European success.
With a competitive group that includes Spain, Ukraine, and Iceland, the Lionesses face a challenging but exciting start to a pivotal year in their international calendar.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa)
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Poppy Pattinson (London City Lionesses), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
March Fixtures
England will start their World Cup qualifying campaign with two March fixtures.
They travel to Turkey to face Ukraine at the Mardan Stadyumu in Antalya on 3 March, with kick-off at 17:00 GMT.
Four days later, England host Iceland at the City Ground in Nottingham, with a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
These fixtures represent England’s first competitive games since their success at Euro 2025 and will provide a critical platform to start their qualification journey.
The Lionesses must finish top of their four-team group, which also includes world champions Spain, Ukraine, and Iceland, to qualify directly for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
A second-place finish would require navigating the European play-offs in the autumn, adding further pressure to the campaign.
