England are set to begin their 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign next month, and attention is already building around Sarina Wiegman’s first squad announcement of 2026. The Lionesses travel to Turkey to face Ukraine on 3 March before hosting Iceland at the City Ground four days later, with both fixtures marking the start of a crucial year.
There are only eight international camps left before England hope to book their place in Brazil, which means Wiegman’s selections carry extra weight. With Spain also in their qualifying group, alongside Ukraine and Iceland, there is little room for early mistakes.
England have not played a competitive match since lifting Euro 2025. Since then, Wiegman has used friendlies to rotate and assess depth. Big wins over China and Ghana capped off last year, while mixed results against Brazil and Australia offered tactical experiments and squad rotation.
The Dutch coach handed debuts to several players in late 2025, including goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and defenders Anouk Denton and Taylor Hinds. At the same time, senior figures such as Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze and Lauren James worked their way back from injury, giving the squad a healthier look heading into 2026.
There will still be notable absences. Ella Toone is sidelined with a hip issue and will miss the March fixtures, reducing midfield options. Missy Bo Kearns is also unavailable, while Lucia Kendall has only recently returned from a thigh injury. Beth Mead is ruled out after fracturing her shin, although Chloe Kelly is back in contention following her own spell out.
Defensively, selection questions remain. Full back depth continues to test Wiegman, particularly with Niamh Charles unavailable and Hinds only just returning from an ankle issue. Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood may again be deployed out wide despite playing centrally for her club. Maya Le Tissier has also provided cover despite operating primarily as a centre back domestically.
Further forward, competition is intense. Lauren James has returned to strong form for Chelsea, while Jess Park and Lauren Hemp have impressed at club level. Young forward Freya Godfrey will hope to earn her first senior cap after a promising domestic campaign. Izzy Goodwin is another name pushing for consideration, especially with Mead absent.
The squad announcement will also reflect how Wiegman balances fitness management with competitive urgency. Players like Bronze, Keira Walsh and Kelly have not consistently played full matches in recent weeks, and rotation across the two qualifiers could be key.
Social platforms are already buzzing with predicted lineups and debates about youth versus experience. With Spain looming later in the campaign, England’s early performances could set the tone for the entire qualifying journey.
