Lionesses squad announcement for first World Cup Qualifiers

Manager Sarina Wiegman has announced a 25-player squad for the two qualifying games that looks a little different to her previous selections. Poppy Pattinson is receiving her first senior call up, while Lauren James, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Hannah Hampton and Jess Carter return to the squad after missing last camp of 2025 back in November. Niamh Charles, Beth Mead, Ella Toone and Missy Bo Kearns were all unavailable for selection this time round due to injuries.

London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson has received her first senior call up to the team after representing England through all the youth levels, including at the 2017 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championships. Her career has seen her play for a few different clubs, Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion for example, since starting out at Sunderland. She most recently made the move to London City Lionesses in summer of 2025 after the club received promotion to the WSL.

Sarina Wiegman said: “It’s a new year with new objectives, as we start our qualification journey with these two very important fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland. 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. 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.”

The fixtures against Ukraine and Iceland are the first Lionesses fixtures of 2026 and mark the beginning of the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The squad have now travelled to Antalya for their game against Ukraine on Tuesday 3^rd March before flying back to England to host Iceland at the City Ground in Nottingham on Sunday 7^th March.

The second international break of the year follows quickly after with a tie against Spain on Tuesday 14^th April at Wembley Stadium, with the trip away to Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday 18^th April. The return leg against Iceland will also mark the historic milestone celebration of the Lionesses’ 500^th game.

Full squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Hannah Hampton, Anna Moorhouse, Ellie Roebuck

DEFENDERS: Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Grace Fisk, Alex Greenwood, Taylor Hinds, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Poppy Pattinson, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy

MIDFIELDERS: Laura Blindkilde-Brown, Grace Clinton, Lucia Kendall, Georgia Stanway, Keira Walsh

FORWARDS: Aggie Beever-Jones, Freya Godfrey, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Jess Park, Alessia Russo