England's qualifying campaign for the 2027 Women's World Cup is officially underway. The Lionesses started it with a 6-1 win over Ukraine on Tuesday and will continue their quest to secure a place in Brazil when hosting Iceland on Saturday. As runners-up in 2023, few would not expect Sarina Wiegman's side to achieve as much, but who the manager will choose to represent the European champions in South America is a little less certain.

Next week, at Wembley Stadium, the two best national teams in European women's football will meet once more as England, winners of the last two European Championship titles, welcome Spain, the reigning world champions. It'll be their sixth competitive encounter in less than four years and it again brings with it huge stakes as the two bid for the one automatic qualification spot from their group for next summer's World Cup. That England could be without their captain, Leah Williamson, then, is a huge blow.

Arsenal's Women's Champions League title defence remains well and truly on track after the Gunners withstood Chelsea's attempts at a comeback on Wednesday, falling to a narrow and late 1-0 defeat to win 3-2 on aggregate. It felt like the Blues had to start fast and score early to stand any chance of overcoming the deficit, and so once Arsenal had prevented them from doing exactly that, progression to the semi-finals rarely looked in doubt.

Arsenal became the first-ever winners of the FIFA Women's Champions Cup as Caitlin Foord struck an extra-time winner to seal a 3-2 victory against a resilient Corinthians side. The Gunners led twice in normal time through Olivia Smith and Lotte Wubben-Moy, before a last-gasp penalty conceded by Katie McCabe saw Vic Albuquerque draw the Brazilian champions level. But Foord had the final say for Renee Slegers' victorious Gunners, who saw goalkeeper Anneke Borbe stretchered off in worrying scenes just before full-time.