England women's squad named for Greece games

Sarina Wiegman has named 23 players for England’s FIFA Women’s World Cup two-legged round one play-off against Greece.

In the first squad of the 2026-27 season, Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter earns her first call up to the seniors, while there is a return for the uncapped Erica Meg Parkinson after April’s debut call-up. Both of them have featured across the England pathway.

Captain Leah Williamson also returns after missing June’s fixtures with injury.

The #Lionesses are BACK 🌟

Sarina Wiegman has named her squad for our upcoming #FIFAWWC play-off games against Greece 💪

Read more 👉 https://t.co/SyKsZSNOTe pic.twitter.com/zrnTxoqast

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) September 29, 2026

England’s next step on the road to Brazil sees them travel to the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete, on Friday 9 October (5.30pm BST). The Lionesses will then host the second leg at the home of Leicester City on Tuesday 13 October (7.30pm).

Should they be successful, a round two tie awaits later in the year with a place at the finals at stake. The home match will be England’s third at the King Power Stadium, where they most recently played in June 2025, securing a 7-0 win over Jamaica ahead of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025. Tickets remain on sale for this game.

"We have great respect for Greece, but our expectations of ourselves are clear," said Wiegman.

"We are here to win these two games, deliver strong performances, and move one step closer to securing our place at the World Cup.

“It’s always exciting to reconnect as a group and we are looking forward to getting back together. The players will arrive motivated and ready for the next steps.

“We are looking forward to travelling to Crete and playing Greece for the first time ever. We will then return to Leicester, where we've enjoyed some good moments together in the past. We know our supporters will get behind the team again, and it will be great to play in front of them after a few months away.”

Should England, runners-up at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, progress to Round 2 of the World Cup play-offs, they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine over two legs during the final international window of the year [24 November – 5 December].

The winners at that stage will secure qualification for next summer’s tournament in Brazil.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool), Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City, loan from Orlando Pride)

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Niamh Charles (Manchester City), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Erica Meg Parkinson (North Carolina Courage), Lexi Potter (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Arsenal), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)

Forwards: Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United),  Alessia Russo (Arsenal)