England captain Leah Williamson has been recalled to the national squad for the first time since Euro 2025 as Sarina Wiegman’s side prepare to launch their 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign. The Arsenal centre‑back, 28, who underwent knee surgery after lifting England’s second successive European crown in July, missed a string of late‑2025 internationals but returned to club action in early December and is now back in full training with the Lionesses.

Williamson sat out England’s friendly wins over China, Ghana and Australia and their defeat by Brazil while rehabilitating from the operation. Her return injects experience and leadership into a squad that has been managing several fitness issues through the winter. “It’s really nice to have her back,” Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live. “She’s still building but she’s in a very good place. It’s good that she’s in our camp, training and playing, and also with other players who have been injured.”

Wiegman named a 25‑player group that blends returning stars and emerging talent as England prepare to travel to Turkey to face Ukraine on Tuesday 3 March (17:00 GMT) before hosting Iceland at Nottingham’s City Ground on Saturday 7 March (12:30). Those fixtures mark England’s first competitive matches since their triumph in Switzerland and begin a qualification campaign that will include a showdown with reigning world champions Spain.

Big names back in camp
Several senior internationals have recovered from injury to rejoin the squad. Chelsea forward Lauren James, who missed four months with an ankle problem, returned to full fitness in November and impressed for club and country in recent weeks, filling a gap in attack while Arsenal’s Beth Mead continues to recover from a fractured shin. Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood, sidelined at the start of the season with a knee issue, is also included. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who missed the November camp with a thigh complaint, has recovered and is available.

Wiegman stressed squad management ahead of a busy cycle, noting the 25‑player selection allows some flexibility. “There are players we definitely need to manage ahead of this camp. We go with 25 players so we have some room to change and figure things out,” she said.

Goalkeeper rotation and youth opportunities
Aston Villa’s Ellie Roebuck earns a recall to the senior group after featuring in the last camp and picking up minutes with her club. Manchester City’s Khiara Keating drops out of the senior selection and will be assigned to the under‑23s as part of a plan to ensure playing time for the young keeper amid strong competition for the goalkeeper positions. “Keating will be with the under‑23s. We all know she is a very talented goalkeeper. I had big concerns about her playing minutes over this last season,” Wiegman explained.

The manager also handed a first senior call‑up to London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson, while 20‑year‑old midfielder Freya Godfrey — uncapped but included in recent squads — retains her place. Gotham FC defender Jess Carter, who was given extended recovery time after the conclusion of the NWSL play‑offs in November, has rejoined the group.

Notable absences
England will be without Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, sidelined with a hip injury and expected to be out until the end of March. Bay FC defender Anouk Denton, 22, who earned her debut as a late substitute in December, was not included in this squad.

Looking ahead
With eight international windows to navigate before the summer of 2027, when the Women’s World Cup takes place in Brazil from 24 June to 25 July, Wiegman says the campaign is an exciting new chapter. “Now the cycle is really starting going into the World Cup qualifiers so I’m really looking forward to it,” she said, adding that matches against opponents England have rarely faced in this generation provide valuable experience.

The Lionesses begin this qualification journey with a largely familiar core — European champions seeking to convert continental success into global consistency — and a mix of rising talent ready to stake their claims as England chase a place in Brazil.