England’s Lionesses made it three wins from three in their 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign with a statement 1–0 victory over reigning world champions Spain, putting them firmly in control of Group 3.
It was the first meeting between the sides since England’s historic penalty shootout win in the European Championship final in Switzerland last July, and with only the top team qualifying automatically for Brazil, the importance of this result cannot be overstated.
England made the perfect start, taking the lead inside three minutes. Alex Greenwood’s corner caused panic in the Spain box, and Lauren Hemp reacted quickest to fire home from close range and give Sarina Wiegman’s side the advantage.
Hemp nearly doubled the lead soon after, meeting Lucy Bronze’s clever backheel, but her effort cannoned off the post. That early spell set the tone, with England executing a disciplined game plan – defending compactly, limiting Spain’s attacking threat, and remaining dangerous on the break.
Spain dominated possession and territory but struggled to convert control into clear chances against a resolute England side. Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle came closest, yet Hannah Hampton remained largely untested before the break.
The second half opened up significantly, with both sides creating chances. Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Lucia Kendall all had opportunities to extend England’s lead but lacked the final quality when it mattered, while Spain struck the woodwork through Olga Carmona and Vicky López.
Late pressure from Spain intensified, with Edna Imade heading wide from close range before being denied by a sharp Hampton save.
England held firm through the closing stages, securing a narrow but crucial victory in a high-stakes qualifier.
Match Highlights
Match Stats
Lineups & Player Ratings
A Statement Victory for the Lionesses
Astonishingly, Spain have lost just three of their last 38 matches – all against England. Those defeats came in the European Championship final shootout in July 2025, a 1–0 loss in the Nations League in February 2025, and now this result at Wembley.
With just three games remaining, qualification now rests firmly in England’s hands. Victories against Iceland and Ukraine, combined with anything other than defeat to Spain in the return fixture, will guarantee their place in Brazil.
Given Spain’s quality, the group was always expected to come down to the matches between the two sides. However, this victory at Wembley shifts the balance firmly in England’s favour, providing both a points advantage and a psychological edge with it all still tp lay for.
Remaining Fixtures
- Sat 18 April, 17:00 – Iceland vs England (Laugardalsvöllur, ITV1/X)
- Fri 5 June, 17:00 – Spain vs England (TBC, ITV1/X)
- Tue 9 June, 20.00 – England vs Ukraine (Wembley, ITV1/X, Tickets)
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