PREVIEW: England take on champions Spain in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers | OneFootball

A new generation of England players have a chance to test themselves against world champions Spain at Wembley, aiming to preserve their lead of the World Cup Qualifying Group A3.

The international giants are currently tied on six points, yet just one team from each group will progress directly to the 2027 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

The rest will compete in play-offs in Autumn.

England will be without key attacking players Aggie Beever-Jones, Grace Clinton and Ella Toone, and captain Leah Williamson remains in doubt.

Their absence opens the doors for a new generation: Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Erica Meg Parkinson (Valdares Gaia), and Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses) will have the opportunity to show themselves in front of more than 70,000 fans.

Erica Meg Parkinson could make her senior debut for England. The 17-year-old impressed manager Sarina Wiegman with her technicality and playmaking abilities.

After announcing Parkinson in her squad, Wiegman said: “She’s an attacking midfielder and is very dynamic. She is very aggressive and wants to go forward.”

As these young players step up, there will be a reminder of the legacy they are inheriting. The match kicks off a week of celebrations marking the Lionesses’ 500th game since 1972, and more than 50 former Lionesses will attend and form a guard of honour as teams walk out onto pitch.

In a pre-match press conference, defender Lotte Wubben-Moy said: “We’re at a place in Lionesses’ football identity, that DNA, where we are quietly confident in that. We are assured in our strengths and in the way we want to perform.”

The fixture itself is steeped in history as England and Spain have battled for the top spot time and time again, including the World Cup Final in 2023 which England lost 1-0.

The last time the teams clashed was at the Euros 2025 Final in Basel, when England narrowly defeated Spain on penalties.

Spain have evolved since that game. New manager Sonia Bermúdez led the team to Nations League glory in December, despite losing three-time Ballon D’or winner Aitana Bonmatí, who fractured her fibula after the first leg of the final.

The return of Barcelona defender Mapi León, who had not played since the player protests after Euros 2022, was key to Spain’s success, helping to keep four clean sheets against Sweden and Germany.

England may have to call on their new attacking options to break through Spain’s defence.

The match will kick-off tomorrow at 19:00. It will be broadcast on BBC One and ITV 1 in the UK.