Report: Spain 1-0 England WU17s

England women’s under-17s slipped to defeat against Spain in their opening game of the 2025-26 season.

Led by new head coach Kerri Welsh, who was announced as the WU17s boss in the summer and who was taking charge of her first game, the Young Lionesses were narrowly beaten in Alicante.

The deadlock was broken on the half-hour mark by Spain. A close-range finish fired La Roja into the lead with the Young Lionesses looking to come from behind after the break.

Despite making a number of changes during the second period, the two teams played out a goalless half as it finished 1-0 to the hosts at La Nucia’s Olimpic Stadium.

The game marks the start of England’s preparations for round one of qualification for the 2026 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship.

Welsh’s side will play three qualifiers in next month during October’s international camp.

England: 1 Erin Walker (Manchester City), 2 Zoe Ciccardini (Chelsea), 3 Katie Scott (Aston Villa) (c), 4 May Cruft (Rangers), 5 Emilie Gay (Brighton & Hove Albion), 6 Isla Law (Bristol City), 7 Mia Dixon (Arsenal), 8 Kyri Teer-Hutchins (Arsenal), 9 Freya Hirons (Manchester City), 10 Bryony Brodie (Arsenal), 11 Jane Oboavwoduo (Manchester City)

Substitutes: 18 Romia Gagliano (FC Basel) for Cruft 45’, 19 Chelsea N’Drin (Liverpool) for Hirons 45’, 13 Evie Mitchell (Manchester United) for Walker 45’, 14 Gabriella Storey (Chelsea) for Brodie 62’, 17 Cairo Antoine (Arsenal) for Teer-Hutchins 62’, 12 Lucy Robinson (Manchester United) for Gay 62’, 16 Isabella Cowley (Arsenal) for Law 80’, 23 Emma Smith (Manchester United) for Dixon 80’, 24 Annabelle Tang (Arsenal) for Oboavwoduo 80’, 20 Lottie Day (Sheffield United) for Ciccardini 80’

Substitutes not used: 15 Sadie Gregory (Chelsea), 21 Sophia Burton (Manchester City), 22 Freya Weeks (Chelsea)

Head coach: Kerri Welsh