England Prepares for World Cup Qualifier Against Spain at Wembley

Olga Carmona scored the decisive goal as Spain triumphed over England in the 2023 World Cup final held in Sydney. However, the Lionesses retaliated earlier this year, securing a 3-1 victory in a penalty shootout against La Roja after Alessia Russo equalized Maria Caldentey’s first-half opener in the Euro 2025 final, which concluded 1-1 after extra time.

The two teams are set to clash again in April, as they meet at Wembley for a World Cup qualifying match on April 14, 2026, with a coveted spot in the 2027 World Cup at stake. This competition will coincide with the conclusion of Sarina Wiegman’s contract extension, which she signed last year after taking the helm as England’s manager in 2021.

Under Wiegman’s leadership, England has celebrated notable victories, including winning the Euros twice, the Arnold Clark Cup twice, and the Women’s Finalissima, where they triumphed over Brazil in penalties in 2023. Earlier this year, Wiegman was recognized as the Ballon d’Or Women’s Coach of the Year.

According to an FA press release, “England will face familiar foes Spain at Wembley Stadium connected by EE in a highly anticipated 2027 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday 14 April 2026.” The release continued, “The 2025 European champions will meet the current world champions in Group A3, evoking fond memories for England fans of last summer’s UEFA EURO final, where the Lionesses secured a dramatic penalty shootout victory in Switzerland, achieving back-to-back titles.”

England will kick off their A3 World Cup qualifying campaign, which also doubles as the UEFA Nations League, in March 2026. They will begin with an away match against Ukraine followed by a home game against Iceland four days later. After facing Spain at Wembley in April, the Lionesses will again play Iceland shortly after.

Their qualifying campaign will conclude in June, with matches against Spain and Ukraine as they aim to secure an automatic spot in Brazil for the 2027 World Cup. Wiegman’s squad will strive to leverage their home advantage to top Group A, knowing that only the group winners will qualify directly, while others will enter playoffs for the remaining European spots.

The FA press release highlighted England’s impressive record at Wembley under Wiegman, noting that they have won seven out of ten matches (including one on penalties) and drawn two since 2021, including a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Spain in February’s UEFA Nations League.

Wiegman commented on the draw for the World Cup qualifiers, stating, “Playing at Wembley always brings a special kind of energy, which we all feel when we step onto the pitch. The history and the memories created there, along with our incredible fans, cultivate a unique atmosphere.

“Spain is undoubtedly one of the best teams globally, and the prospect of playing them at Wembley again is thrilling. We learned from the EURO final just how formidable they are to play against, and there exists a strong mutual respect between our teams.

“This group poses challenges, but our primary objective is to qualify for the World Cup, and that is our total focus from now on. We hope our fans will support us in taking a step closer to Brazil at Wembley in April.”

Since their Euro 2025 success, England has played twice, following a 2-1 loss to Brazil at the Etihad Stadium with a 3-0 victory over Australia at Pride Park last month. They are set to continue their momentum with a match against China at Wembley at the end of November, initially planned to be a farewell for Mary Earps. The Lionesses will conclude their international engagements for the year with a match against Ghana at St. Mary’s in early December.