England and Spain are back on the same stage at Wembley on Tuesday night, meeting in a Group A3 qualifier for the Women’s World Cup 2027. Kick-off is at 7pm BST, with more than 70,000 expected in attendance for a fixture that revives a rivalry which has quickly become one of the defining match-ups in women’s football.
The sides last faced each other in the final of Euro 2025 in Basel, eight and a half months ago. That contest ended with Spain and England sharing another major final meeting, and this latest encounter comes in another tournament where the two nations have previously crossed paths at the decisive stage.
England arrive with a significant milestone in their line-up. Keira Walsh is set to make her 100th appearance for her country in what will be England’s 499th international match. The team is expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Hannah Hampton in goal and a back four of Lucy Bronze, Leila Wubben-Moy, Millie Morgan and Alex Greenwood. Walsh is named in midfield alongside Grace Kendall and Georgia Stanway, while Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo and Lauren James form the front line.
Spain’s starting XI also points towards a 4-3-3 shape. Cata Coll is in goal, with Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Mapi Leon and Olga Carmona in defence. The midfield includes Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí Guijarro and Alexia Putellas, while Clàudia Pina, Cristina Gonzalez and Salma Lopez are listed in attack. The match will be refereed by Tess Olofsson of Sweden.
A renewed Spain under Sonia Bermúdez
Although the meeting comes less than a year after the Euro 2025 final, Spain have changed noticeably. They now have a new head coach in Sonia Bermúdez and a squad that blends established names with a wave of younger players. Bermúdez has already guided Spain to silverware, winning the Nations League after taking over from Montse Tomé.
That run has also underlined Spain’s consistency. They are unbeaten since the Euros, with five wins and a draw from their six matches in that period. England, by contrast, are facing a side that has maintained momentum and added a fresher look through the transition in the dugout and the introduction of emerging talent.
The setting adds further weight to the occasion. Wembley has staged many landmark nights for England, and this qualifier offers another test against the reigning European champions in a game that carries both prestige and practical significance in the race for the Women’s World Cup 2027.
With the group stage still in its early phases, the match is about more than recent history. It is also an opportunity for England to measure themselves against the team they know best from the biggest recent finals, while Spain continue their qualification campaign under a new coach who has already delivered a trophy.
For England, the night is marked by Walsh reaching a century of caps, a reminder of the experience in the squad as they seek another statement result. For Spain, it is another chance to show that their post-Euro evolution has not blunted their edge. In front of a large Wembley crowd, both teams begin the evening with familiar stakes and a familiar sense of occasion.
