ENGLAND SQUAD: Potter handed first call-up while Williamson returns | OneFootball

Chelsea’s Lexi Potter has been handed a first senior England call-up while captain Leah Williamson will return to the squad for next month’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 round one play-off ties against Greece.

WSL Full-Time were informed of England head coach Sarina Wiegman’s latest squad selection via an official press release from The Football Association this morning.

The Lionesses contest two-legged FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 round one play-off ties against Greece after failing to secure automatic qualification from their group. England travel to the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion, Crete, on Friday 9 October 2026 before hosting the second leg at The King Power Stadium in Leicester on Tuesday 13 October 2026. The winners will advance to the second round of play-offs where they will face Slovakia or Ukraine.

England boss Wiegman has selected an initial 23-player squad with Chelsea midfielder Potter earning a first senior call-up and captain Williamson making her return following injury. North Carolina Courage midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson has been recalled while goalkeeper Khiara Keating is also back after injury.

Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly have not been included while Aggie Beever-Jones is continuing to recover from a recent injury.

After announcing her squad, England boss Wiegman said “We have great respect for Greece, but our expectations of ourselves are clear. 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.”

Tickets for the home fixture against Greece can be purchased by clicking here.

England Squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool), Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City on 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)