THE October Lionesses squad has been released for the October international break and we have some key players missing out due to injury and some stars gaining their first senior international call-up.
England will be playing their first two games of their homecoming series – but this will be their first outings since winning the Euros in the summer.
The Lionesses will be playing Brazil at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday 25th October and Australia at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday 28th October.
The European Champions and the South American Champions will be facing each other for the first time since the Finalissima back in April in 2023 – England won this match up on penalties.
This will also be the first meeting between the Euro Champs and Australia since that unforgettable match at the World Cup in 2023, where England booked their place in the final by defeating the Matildas 3-1.
20 of the Euro winning squad will be returning with Lauren James, Lauren Hemp and captain Leah Williamson missing out due to injuries.
There are first senior call-ups for Taylor Hinds, Lucia Kendall and Katie Reid who have all represented England in the youth pathways set-up.
Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Missy Bo Kearns have returned to the squad after missing out narrowly on the European Championships squad.
This will be the first England camp without Lionesses veteran, Millie Bright who has called time on her international career and is now the fifth player from the Euro 2022 final starting XI to retire from representating England.
The 25 player squad called up by Sarina Weigman in full is:
Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride) and Khiara Keating (Manchester City).
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Katie Reid (Arsenal), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United) and Taylor Hinds (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Keira Walsh (Chelsea), Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa) and Jess Park (Manchester United).
Forwards: Michelle Ageymang (Brighton and Hove Albion – on loan from Arsenal), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea) and Chloe Kelly (Arsenal).
It is vital for these next two games that the team put out a performance they are happy with as after this camp, on Tuesday 4th November, the World Cup Qualifiers opponents for the Lionesses will be drawn.
This draw will confirm England’s three opponents for the first half of 2026, kick starting their campaign for World Cup Qualifiers.
