Leah Williamson and Lauren James have been named in Sarina Wiegman’s 25-player England squad for their upcoming Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The pair have returned from injury to be selected for the fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland, having not featured for the Lionesses since Euro 2025, while goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and defenders Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood are back in after not being part of November’s experimental squad,
London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson has earned her first senior call-up, but Wiegman has a host of injury issues.
Arsenal trio Beth Mead, Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang, Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, Chelsea left-back Niamh Charles and Aston Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns are all ruled out.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck has been preferred to Khiara Keating, who will be part of the U23s squad after falling out of favour at Manchester City this season.
“We want to start our campaign off in the best possible way and will need to be at a top level as we face two different challenges,” said Wiegman.
“This is new opposition for this England team, so that’s exciting too. I am looking forward to being back with the squad and getting back to work.
“As always we’re grateful to the fans for their support. A big crowd in Nottingham (for Iceland) in a historic stadium will be really special, but we can’t look too far ahead and our full focus first will be on our opening fixture.”
England Women’s squad
Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotha), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Man Utd), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Poppy Pattinson (London City Lionesses), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Man City), Grace Clinton (Man City, Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea).
Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Man City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Jess Park (Man Utd), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).
More to follow.
March 3: Ukraine (a), Mardan Stadyumu, Turkey – 5pm
March 7: Iceland (h), The City Ground – 12.30pm
April 14: Spain (h), Wembley – 7pm
April 18: Iceland (a), tbc
June 5: Spain (a), tbc
June 9: Ukraine (h), tbc
