England news

Last month, when Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was asked if there was concern that her contract situation could prove to be a distraction for England ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup, she was pretty bullish in her answer. "There is no distraction whatsoever," she responded. "Everyone is really focused on this qualification. I haven't heard anyone in my team or staff that has been occupied with that."

Lionesses midfielder Missy Bo Kearns has revealed that she is pregnant with her first child, due in September. Kearns was not included in Sarina Wiegman's squad for England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers, described as being unavailable for selection, and the reasons for that have now become clear, after the Aston Villa star and her boyfriend, also a professional footballer, announced the news on social media.

Lionesses star Georgia Stanway has revealed that she is "very close" to signing for her new club after announcing that she will be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season. It has been widely reported that the midfielder is primed to return to England and sign for Arsenal, with the confirmation of as much clearly not far away now.

England captain Leah Williamson is fiercely determined to lift the 2027 World Cup to complete her collection of all the major trophies available in women's football. The Arsenal defender is incredibly well decorated, yet one trophy alludes her cabinet and she has expressed her desire to fill the gap left by the biggest prize in international football.

As soon as Jess Park received the ball on the edge of the Atletico Madrid box, Marc Skinner knew. She took one touch, then another to get it out of her feet and set herself up for a perfect strike with her right foot, which would send the ball over the heads of every Atleti defender, out of the reach of goalkeeper Lola Gollardo and into the top corner, giving Skinner's Manchester United an unassailable 5-0 lead on aggregate, one that secured their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

Lionesses newcomer Poppy Pattinson has revealed that she was on a flight watching Love Island when Sarina Wiegman phoned to give the defender her first senior England call-up. The London City Lionesses star could make her senior international debut next month, as the reigning European champions prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Iceland.

England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck says that representing the Lionesses is "the reason" she is still playing football after suffering a stroke aged just 24 that left her wondering whether she would ever play again. Part of England's Euro 2022-winning squad, the Aston Villa shot-stopper is back in Sarina Wiegman's squad this month after receiving her first full call-up in over two years.

For the first time since triumphing at last summer’s European Championship, the Lionesses are back in competitive action, kickstarting their 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign against Ukraine on Tuesday. Four days later, England will then host Iceland, looking for a perfect start as they battle world champions Spain for the group’s only automatic qualifying spot.

Lionesses icon Mary Earps has "apologised for the hurt" her controversial autobiography caused last year as she grabbed headlines for comments about England boss Sarina Wiegman and team-mate Hannah Hampton. Earps has since met with Wiegman to talk about the situation and has opened up on what she described as her "first experience of cancel culture".

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson has warned that she would "never" rule out the potential of strike action in order to get a message across regarding players' concerns over the football schedule. It's been a hot topic in women's and men's football in recent years, one the Arsenal star herself has not shied away from discussing, and she has made her feelings clear about the issue again this week.

Coming into the 2025-26 season, few - if any - were carrying the kind of momentum that Chloe Kelly was. She was the Lionesses' hero in the summer, scoring the penalty that delivered the 2025 European Championship title after also enjoying huge moments in the quarter-and-semi-finals to get England into that title-deciding clash with Spain. With a permanent move to Arsenal secured after all that, having helped the Gunners win the Champions League in May while on loan, Kelly felt primed for a huge season.

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman is confident that the topic of her future with the team will not be a distraction as England begin their bid to qualify for the 2027 Women's World Cup. Wiegman, who has overseen back-to-back European Championship triumphs with the Lionesses, is under contract until the end of next year's tournament and says there is "no update" on any renewal, but that it is not a situation that she believes is concerning her staff or players right now.

Hannah Hampton, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood and Lauren James are all back in the England squad after missing the Lionesses' final camp of 2025 due to injury, dealing Sarina Wiegman's side a real boost as they cope with some new absentees ahead of the start of qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup. England are without four members of the Euro 2025-winning squad for the upcoming window, including Ella Toone and Beth Mead.