England’s perfect qualification run came to a crashing halt on Friday night as the Lionesses suffered a bruising 4-0 defeat to Spain in Mallorca.
Sarina Wiegman’s side now return to home soil for their final Group A3 fixture, knowing their direct route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil hinges on a high-stakes showdown.
With top spot still within reach but no longer in their control, the Lionesses must respond emphatically on Merseyside.
How England Can Qualify
The defeat in Mallorca dramatically reshaped the Group A3 standings. Spain now sit top on goal difference, with both sides locked on 12 points heading into the final round.
Automatic Qualification Scenario:
Only group winners secure direct qualification for the World Cup in Brazil. England must better Spain’s result against Iceland. If Spain win in Reykjavik, England will finish second regardless of their own result.
A runners-up finish would send England into the European play-offs. While not ideal, they would enter as a seeded side in the two-legged ties.
Head-to-Head: England vs Ukraine
England boast a dominant historical record against Ukraine and will look to draw confidence from previous meetings.
March 3, 2026: Ukraine 1–6 England
A commanding away display featuring braces from Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway, and Jess Park.
June 19, 2014: Ukraine 1–2 England
Two early goals from Casey Stoney and Eniola Aluko ensured Mark Sampson’s side made it eight wins from eight games in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
May 8, 2014: England 4–0 Ukraine
A brace for both Natasha Dowie and Aluko ensured a dominant victory for the Lionesses in Shrewsbury.
Team News & Tactical Reshuffle
Wiegman faces a significant challenge to lift a squad that was outplayed across the pitch against Spain.
Defensively, England continue to miss captain Leah Williamson, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Taylor Hinds and Ellie Roebuck are also unavailable, while Khiara Keating remains out due to concussion protocols.
Midfield control will be key. The trio of Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, and Stanway struggled to cope with Spain’s press, and improvements in possession and tempo will be essential against a deeper Ukrainian setup.
Wiegman may also look to freshen things up, with Jess Park pushing for a starting role after her standout performance in the reverse fixture.
Ukraine
Ukraine arrive as clear underdogs but could prove difficult to break down. Expect a compact, low-defensive block aimed at frustrating England and capitalising on any lingering vulnerabilities.
England’s attacking width through players like Lauren James and Lauren Hemp will likely be crucial in stretching the Ukrainian defence and creating openings.
Predicted Lineup
England (4-3-3): Hampton, Bronze, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Greenwood, Walsh, Stanway, Park, James, Russo, Hemp
Match Details
Fixture: England vs Ukraine
Competition: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Qualifier (League A, Group A3)
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
What’s At Stake
For England, this is about far more than qualification permutations. It is a test of character after their heaviest defeat under Wiegman.
The Lionesses must respond, and their head coach made that clear in the immediate aftermath of the loss, urging unity and a reaction from her players.
Sarina Wiegman insisted that “what we need to do now is stick together. We have one more game on Tuesday. We need to show what we can do,” a message that underlines both the urgency and belief within the squad.
Victory would take England to 15 points, pile maximum pressure on Spain, and restore confidence ahead of the next stage, whether that’s direct qualification or the play-offs.
On home soil, the Lionesses now have the perfect opportunity to answer back.
