England significantly enhanced their prospects for automatic qualification to the 2027 Women’s World Cup by securing a narrow victory over reigning champions Spain at Wembley, maintaining their flawless qualifying record thus far.
The match was tightly contested, with both sides squandering key scoring opportunities. Ultimately, the outcome hinged on two pivotal moments involving the ball’s proximity to the goal line: one that crossed into the net and another that did not. England benefited from an early strike by Lauren Hemp, which found the back of the net, while Spain’s Olga Carmona saw her deflected shot in the second half bounce off the crossbar and away from danger. A superb reflex save from Hannah Hampton, denying Edna Imade in the final moments, secured a 1-0 victory for the Lionesses. Such narrow margins could prove crucial in determining the final standings of this qualification group.
In a tactical display reminiscent of their previous encounter in Basel, England successfully frustrated Spain, meeting them for the first time since the European Championship final in July, which England won via penalties. The match showcased the ongoing rivalry between the two teams, with the 62,306 spectators witnessing an entertaining second half.
England capitalized on an early mistake by the Spanish defense during a corner kick in the third minute. Alessia Russo demonstrated her strength by managing to flick the ball to Hemp, who volleyed it into the goal. Replays confirmed that Hemp’s shot barely crossed the line before being cleared by Alexia Putellas. Despite Putellas’ protests to the Swedish referee, Tess Olofsson, regarding whether the entire ball had crossed the line, Olofsson referred to her watch, as goalline technology was employed in the match.
With the lead, the European champions adopted a defensive strategy, attempting to contain Spain and exploit counterattacking opportunities. England appeared dangerous on the break, with Lauren James skillfully maneuvering past Ona Batlle before sending a shot over the net. A notable counterattack ended with Hemp striking the post following a well-timed backheel assist from Lucy Bronze. Keira Walsh, celebrating her 100th cap as captain, had a low shot blocked from the edge of the box, while Russo also came close from a tight angle.
Spain created their own chances, including a missed header from Irene Paredes that went over the bar following a corner from Claudia Pina, and a blocked attempt from Patricia Guijarro outside the box. Batlle had a promising opportunity when she broke into the penalty area but shot just above Hampton’s crossbar. Guijarro also forced a save from Hampton with a flick at the near post. Despite being without Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, who is recovering from a leg injury, Spain still posed threats, particularly early in the second half when Carmona’s deflected shot narrowly avoided the goal.
In other matches, Scotland secured a dramatic late equalizer against Belgium, maintaining their lead in League B. Belgium initially took the lead with a goal from Sari Kees in the 15th minute, but Kathleen McGovern equalized deep into stoppage time. Leading the group is crucial for Nations League promotion and a favorable playoff route to next year’s World Cup.
Wales enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 victory over Albania, with Hannah Cain scoring twice, bringing her total to six goals in her last four matches. Elise Hughes and Rhiannon Roberts also contributed to the scoreline. Wales currently sits second in Group B1, trailing Czechia on goal difference after their 5-0 win against Montenegro.
Michael McArdle marked the beginning of his tenure with Northern Ireland with a solid 4-0 win over Malta. Keri Halliday netted two goals, with Joely Andrews and Danielle Maxwell also scoring, ending a six-game winless streak and earning their first points in the qualifying campaign.
In League A, Katie McCabe played a crucial role in the Republic of Ireland’s 3-2 win over Poland, scoring a stunning volley and missing a penalty. Ireland took a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, but Poland responded with a goal from Tanja Pawollek before Marissa Sheva restored Ireland’s advantage. Despite Ewa Pajor’s goal late in the match and McCabe’s missed penalty, Ireland managed to hold on for the win.
The Netherlands climbed to the top of Group A2, defeating France 2-1 in Breda. Renee van Asten scored the opener, but Sandy Baltimore equalized for France before Esmee Brugts secured the win for the Netherlands.
Denmark surprised Sweden in Gothenburg, taking control of Group A1 with a late goal from substitute Janni Thomsen. Sweden had initially led with a goal from Jusu Bah, but Pernille Harder equalized before Denmark’s late winner. Sweden now sits third in their group, behind Italy, who delivered a strong 6-0 victory against Serbia.
Meanwhile, Germany maintained their position at the top of Group A4 with a convincing 5-1 win over Austria in Nuremberg. Nicole Anyomi opened the scoring, followed by second-half goals from Vivien Endemann, Lea Schüller, and Jule Brand. Norway also secured a dominant 5-0 win over Slovenia, with two goals from Ada Hegerberg. In England’s squad, Lucia Kendall made a surprising start but managed to hold her own, creating a scoring opportunity although her shot went wide.
