England face Spain in crucial Women's World Cup qualifier

The equation sounds simple: avoid defeat on Friday and England will qualify automatically for the Women’s World Cup. The reality of the task ahead is far more complicated. Facing the world champions, Spain, like the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range that towers into the sky behind the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, is an imposing barrier between the Lionesses and Brazil 2027.

A positive result in Mallorca would do more than guarantee England a shot at glory next summer. It would send a powerful statement that England remain a force to be reckoned with if they can tame the game’s greatest technical midfield, again.

Spain away is the toughest fixture in international football. Topping a difficult qualifying group – in a fixture that is a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final – would show the Lionesses are ready for a world title to add to their two European triumphs.

As Europe’s two strongest sides, and as two of the best in the world alongside the USA, these rivals met in the European Championship final only 11 months ago, which England won in a penalty shootout.

Lucy Bronze says Spain “bring out the best in us”, the England right-back adding: “It’s one of those rivalries where we have made each other better over the years. It’s good for the game and it’s good for each other.

“The way Spain has improved over the past four or five years has really pushed this England team on to improve as well. That filters through to the rest of Europe and the world. All teams in Europe are really improving. It’s just a really good, fun rivalry that both teams absolutely love.”

England, the only team in Europe’s top tier, League A, with a 100% record in qualifying so far, produced a spirited performance to beat Spain 1-0 at Wembley in April, when an early Lauren Hemp goal was enough to move Sarina Wiegman’s side to the top of their group. At Wembley, Spain had 63% possession and that figure could be even higher on Friday with the return of the Barcelona midfielder and Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí following her recovery from a broken leg.

“When you play against Spain, you have to be comfortable without the ball at times,” Alessia Russo said this week at St George’s Park. “They’re probably one of, if not the, best team in the world at keeping possession. So we have to find different ways and we’ve done it in the past.

“You do have to be patient and you may only get a few chances. But that’s something that we’re aware of and understand.”

Russo scored on England’s most recent visit to Spain in June 2025, before a Clàudia Pina double earned Spain a 2-1 Nations League victory, but England went on to beat them in the European Championship final the following month.

England will be without their captain, Leah Williamson, and Taylor Hinds through injury. However, Wiegman confirmed that otherwise she has a full squad to draw from in Palma, including Lauren James, who missed the recent Sevens final in Brentford on Sunday after picking up a minor injury. Spain see James as England’s biggest threat.

Knowing a draw would be enough for England could foster a degree of complacency, but Wiegman’s philosophy is plain enough: “The principle is always, whatever the situation, we go out there to win.”

Were England to lose, and they finish level on points with Spain, their head-to-head records would count. So a winning margin of two goals or more would earn Spain pole position. A one-goal victory for the hosts would mean qualification goes down to Tuesday night when England host Ukraine at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. England would love to avoid such an outcome and have spoken throughout this campaign of wanting to qualify “as soon as possible”. That chance has now arrived.