Honestly, if you aren't following the Lionesses right now, you're missing the most chaotic and high-stakes era of English football. We just came off a summer where Sarina Wiegman’s squad basically redefined "clutch" by defending their European title in Switzerland. It was messy. It was stressful. But they did it. Now, the dust has barely settled on that Euro 2025 trophy, and we’re already looking at the 2027 World Cup cycle.
The schedule for england women's national football team games in 2026 is out, and it's brutal. No easy warm-ups. No "gentle" transitions. We are talking about a straight-up collision course with Spain—again.
The Road to Brazil Starts with a Revenge Tour
The qualifying draw for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil has dropped England into League A, Group 3. It’s a group that feels like it was written by a Netflix producer. You’ve got England, the reigning European champions. You’ve got Spain, the reigning World Champions. Then you have Iceland and Ukraine, two teams that are notoriously annoying to break down on a cold Tuesday night.
Let's look at the dates. You'll want to clear your calendar for these:
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- March 3, 2026: Ukraine vs England (Away)
- March 7, 2026: England vs Iceland (Home)
- April 14, 2026: England vs Spain (Wembley Stadium)
- April 18, 2026: Iceland vs England (Away)
- June 5, 2026: Spain vs England (Away)
- June 9, 2026: England vs Ukraine (Home)
That April 14th game at Wembley? Tickets are already flying. It’s a rematch of the Euro 2025 final where the Lionesses took it on penalties. Spain is under new management now, with Sonia Bermudez at the helm, and they are hungry for a win against Wiegman.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Qualifying Format
I see people on Twitter (or X, whatever) saying England will qualify easily because they’re the Euro champs. Not true. The UEFA qualifying path is actually kind of a nightmare. Only the four group winners in League A get an automatic ticket to Brazil. If England finishes second—even by a single point or a fluke goal—they get dumped into the playoffs. The playoffs are a multi-round slog in October and November 2026. Nobody wants that. It’s extra mileage on players who are already playing 50+ games a year for clubs like Arsenal and Man City.
Basically, the england women's national football team games against Spain are the season. If they don't win those, the path to the World Cup becomes significantly more terrifying.
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The Roster Shakeup No One is Talking About
We have to talk about the squad. It’s changing fast.
Millie Bright announced her international retirement late in 2025. That’s a massive hole in the leadership. Leah Williamson is still the captain, obviously, but the defensive partnership is in flux. We’re seeing more of Maya Le Tissier and Anouk Denton.
Then there’s the Michelle Agyemang situation. The kid is a superstar in the making but she’s recovering from a nasty ACL injury. Sarina is having to lean heavily on the "old guard" like Lucy Bronze—who just won Player of the Year for 2025—and Alessia Russo.
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How to Actually Get Tickets for 2026
If you want to see the england women's national football team games live, stop waiting for the general sale. By the time that opens, the good seats at Wembley or the regional stadiums are gone.
- Join My England Football: It's free. This gets you into the priority windows. For the Spain game, the priority window was way back in November, but for the June games, keep an eye on your inbox about 3-4 months out.
- Regional Games: The FA loves taking the team to places like St. Mary’s or Pride Park. These are usually much easier to get tickets for than Wembley, and the atmosphere is often louder because the fans are closer to the pitch.
- Broadcasting: If you can’t get to the stadium, ITV Sport still holds the rights for the qualifiers.
Why the "Wiegman Era" is at a Crossroads
Sarina Wiegman hit her 50th win with the Lionesses at the end of 2025. She’s statistically the most successful manager England has ever had. Period.
But her contract only runs until 2027. She’s been pretty vague about what happens after that. When asked after the China game (which was an 8-0 demolition, by the way), she basically said she’s "relaxed." That’s Sarina-speak for I’m focused on the trophy, not the paperwork. There’s a lot of pressure. The expectation isn't just to qualify; it's to dominate. But with key players like Danielle Carter retiring and new faces like Lucia Kendall and Jess Naz trying to find their feet, the 2026 games are going to be a massive test of Wiegman's ability to rebuild on the fly.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning to follow the team this year, here is what you need to do:
- Sync your calendar: Go to the official England Football site and use the "Sync to Calendar" feature. The kick-off times for the away games in Ukraine and Iceland are still TBC, and they often change at the last minute for TV.
- Watch the U23s: Keep an eye on Emma Coates’ squad. Players like Anouk Denton are being pulled up to the seniors with zero notice. If you want to know who the next breakout star is, that's where you look.
- Book the April 14th travel now: If you’re heading to Wembley, London prices are only going one way.
The england women's national football team games are no longer just "nice-to-watch" events; they are major cultural moments. Whether we see another trophy in Brazil depends entirely on how they handle this 2026 gauntlet. It’s going to be a wild ride.