Lionesses Prepare for Upcoming Matches Against Asian Champions and China

The Lionesses will welcome the Asian champions on November 29, with 80,000 tickets available for this match at Wembley Stadium, the home of English football. They will then face African opposition on December 2 as they travel to the south coast.

England’s match against China will complete a trio of fixtures held under the iconic Wembley arch in 2025. Earlier this year, they faced World Cup winners Spain, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat in January, before securing a decisive 6-0 victory over Portugal in May.

**Squad Overview:**
**Goalkeepers:** Sophie Baggaley (Brighton & Hove Albion), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
**Defenders:** Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Anouk Denton (West Ham United), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)
**Midfielders:** Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
**Forwards:** Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jess Park (Manchester United), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

Manager Sarina Wiegman has consistently maintained a pathway between the U23 ranks and the senior squad throughout her illustrious tenure. Freya Godfrey is the latest player to receive this promotion after impressing for the London City Lionesses, newly promoted to the Women’s Super League (WSL).

Meanwhile, two-time European Championship winner Lauren Hemp returns from injury alongside her club teammate Grace Clinton. Sophie Baggaley, Anouk Denton, Grace Fisk, Taylor Hinds, and Lucia Kendall have retained their spots following their previous selection in the October international window.

While many familiar faces are included, several notable absences are evident. Euro 2025 penalty shootout hero Hannah Hampton is sidelined due to injury. Additionally, Michelle Agyemang and Alex Greenwood are also recovering from injuries, and Lionesses captain Leah Williamson is working towards full fitness, along with Chelsea forward Lauren James.

Jess Park has not been selected for this squad after an intense season with her club and country. Following the end of the NWSL playoffs, Park has been granted a much-needed break ahead of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup with Gotham FC in early 2026.

The upcoming clash with China will evoke memories of the Lionesses’ impressive 6-1 victory over the same team during the 2023 World Cup, where they reached the final. England will also face Ghana for the first time, concluding their 2025 schedule.

St Mary’s Stadium is a well-known venue for the team, having hosted a 5-0 victory over Northern Ireland during Euro 2022, as well as Wiegman’s inaugural game as England manager in September 2021.

Regarding her latest squad selection, Wiegman stated, “It’s been another unforgettable year, and we’re looking forward to concluding it with these final two matches of the ‘Homecoming Series.’ We will have the opportunity to celebrate our successes in front of our supporters, while also focusing on our objective to qualify for the World Cup. These fixtures against non-European opposition will provide valuable learning and development opportunities as we prepare for competitive matches in March, April, and June 2026. This is a crucial window for us to work diligently with the players and explore different strategies.

“Playing in front of over 80,000 fans at Wembley is something we will never take for granted. We extend our gratitude to our fans for their incredible support both at home and abroad throughout 2025.”

As the new year approaches, England is gearing up for the commencement of the 2027 World Cup qualification campaign, facing Spain, Iceland, and Ukraine in the group stage. Additionally, another home match against La Roja has been scheduled for April 14 at Wembley.