Sarina Wiegman will remain in charge of the Lionesses after agreeing to a contract extension that will see her lead the Lionesses through to UEFA EURO 2029.
This is a great move by the FA and, quite frankly, an absolute no-brainer. Wiegman is someone I trust to take England to Brazil with a genuine chance of bringing the trophy home, while also managing the transition towards the next generation of players and ultimately leaving her successor in a really strong position.
Wiegman, who took charge of England in September 2021, has overseen one of the most successful periods in the history of the women’s national team.
The Dutch coach has guided England to five consecutive major tournament finals, including back-to-back European Championship titles in 2022 and 2025. She also led the Lionesses to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where they finished runners-up to Spain.
The new agreement will keep Wiegman at the helm beyond next summer’s World Cup, with England currently focused on securing their place at the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
England will face Ukraine over two legs in the final World Cup play-off round, with the second leg taking place at Wembley on Saturday, December 5. Victory would book the Lionesses’ place at next summer’s tournament, where they will look to go one better than their runners-up finish in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Speaking after extending her deal, Wiegman said she was delighted to continue working with the squad and praised the support she has received from The FA, her coaching staff and the players.
“I am grateful to Mark Bullingham, Debbie Hewitt and the FA Board for the incredible way they have backed me, my coaches and support team and, of course, the players.
“I am honoured by their trust, which I never take for granted and want to keep this great partnership going. I have such a strong desire to see what more we can achieve together with our amazing fans.
“I also want to keep supporting the wonderful collaborative work being led by The FA across the women’s game, particularly in developing young players and coaches.
“Of course, anyone who knows me will understand that my main concern right now is absolutely the World Cup, and helping this squad realise their potential in the years to come. We have an important job to do to confirm our place in Brazil, and hopefully we can do that and give the country another special summer to remember next year.
Her new contract will also see her oversee England’s next European Championship campaign, with EURO 2029 set to be hosted in Germany.
Before then, there is plenty more on the horizon, including next spring’s UEFA Nations League campaign. Success in that competition could also help England players secure a place with Team GB at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Wiegman will continue to work alongside assistants Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, as well as long-standing Lionesses goalkeeping coach Darren Ward.
The extension further underlines the FA’s faith in Wiegman and her role in what has been a hugely successful period for England Women, with the Lionesses now established among the leading nations in the international game.
