England has taken a significant step towards automatic qualification for the Women's World Cup, following a hard-won 1-0 victory against Spain at Wembley Stadium. This marked the first encounter between the two teams since the Euro 2025 final in July, where England emerged victorious on penalties.
The Lionesses made a strong start, with Lauren Hemp scoring the opening goal within three minutes, which was confirmed by goal-line technology. England continued to dominate the first half, with Keira Walsh and Alessia Russo coming close to scoring. Spain, however, regained composure in the second half, with Olga Carmona and Vicky Lopez hitting the woodwork.
England's defense held strong, with goalkeeper Hannah Hampton making a crucial save late in the game. The win puts England three points clear at the top of Group A3, ahead of Spain. England manager Sarina Wiegman expressed her happiness with the result, citing the team's defensive efforts and compactness. Midfielder Keira Walsh, who earned her 100th cap, praised the team's strategy and acknowledged the challenge posed by Spain.
The victory is a significant step forward for England's World Cup qualification, with their next match against Iceland on Saturday.