England WU17s squad named for MIMA Cup

England women's under-17s head coach Kerri Welsh has selected a 24-player squad for the upcoming MIMA Cup in Spain.

For the first time in 2026, the Young Lionesses will be back in action as they play three fixtures at the Pinatar Arena, Murcia.

Welsh’s side will first play Mexico on Monday 9 February (3.30pm GMT), while the following two fixtures will take place on Thursday 12 February and Saturday 14 February, with opponents to be determined as the tournament progresses. Opposition could include Morocco, Norway, Poland, Scotland, USA or Wales.

The tournament serves as important preparation for round two of qualification for the UEFA Women’s U17 European Championship which will take place in March. During the second round, the
Young Lionesses will take on Italy, Croatia and Turkey, with a first-place finish in the group securing a spot at the finals held in May in Northern Ireland.

Kerri Welsh said: “We’re really looking forward to starting an exciting year with the MIMA Cup, which will give us a great opportunity to face different styles of play and continue learning and developing. These matches are vital as we prepare for key fixtures in March and look ahead to an exciting 2026, with both a WU17s European Championship and World Cup to qualify for.

"We have a strong squad with a good mix of experience and new faces, and most importantly we want the girls to enjoy themselves and make the most of this opportunity.”

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Evie Mitchell (Manchester United), Victoria Rudz (Chelsea), Erin Walker (Manchester City)

Defenders: Maisie Brickell (Chelsea), Zoe Ciccardini (Cheslea), Lottie Day (Sheffield United), Emilie Gay (Brighton & Hove Albion), Niobe Mellor-Antill (Manchester City), Amarachukwu Nwankwo (Manchester City), Lucy Robinson (Manchester United), Katie Scott (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Pixie Bradley (Manchester United), Bryony Brodie (Arsenal), Romia Gagliano (FC Basel), Annabelle Tang (Arsenal), Maizie Trueman (Liverpool)

Forwards: Cairo Antoine (Arsenal), Sophia Burton (Manchester City), Alexandra De Beaulac (Players Development Academy), Mia Dixon (Arsenal), Freya Hirons (Manchester City), Abbie Jones (Sheffield United), Aysia Matabaro (Chelsea), Chelsea N’Drin (Liverpool)