England has taken a significant step towards automatic qualification for the Women's World Cup with a tightly contested 1-0 victory over Spain at Wembley. The match marked the first encounter between the two teams since the Euro 2025 final in July, where England emerged victorious on penalties.
Lauren Hemp scored the opening goal within three minutes, which was confirmed by goal-line technology. England dominated the first half, with Keira Walsh and Alessia Russo coming close to scoring. Spain improved in the second half, with Olga Carmona and Vicky Lopez hitting the woodwork, but England's defense held strong.
The win puts England three points clear at the top of Group A3, with only the top team qualifying automatically for the World Cup. England manager Sarina Wiegman expressed her happiness with the result, praising her team's defensive efforts and compactness. Midfielder Keira Walsh, who earned her 100th cap, acknowledged the team's strategy to sit back and counter-attack, given Spain's possession-based style. The victory showcases England's ability to compete with top teams, even without some of their regular starters, and sets them up for their next qualifier against Iceland.