England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman, has announced a 23‑player roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifying play‑off against Greece, and the selections have sparked considerable discussion. Notably, two high‑profile forwards – Ella Toone of Manchester United and Chloe Kelly of Arsenal – have been left out of the squad, a decision that Wiegman explained was based on recent performances rather than any personal issues.
Kelly’s situation at Arsenal this season has been far from ideal. She has yet to complete a full 90‑minute spell for the club and has not earned a starting berth in any of their matches. The last time the England manager omitted her from a senior call‑up was back in February 2025, making this exclusion particularly striking given Kelly’s reputation as a decisive goal‑scorer for the national side.
Wiegman said, "The main reason is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch," highlighting that the decision was rooted in the standards she expects from her players. Toone’s case is similarly nuanced.
The midfielder has featured in three of Manchester United’s Women's Super League fixtures this season, but she did not play in the 1‑1 draw with Arsenal on 19 September. Despite her involvement in the league, Wiegman felt her recent displays did not meet the benchmark required for a crucial play‑off. "I have had a conversation with them and there is big competition going on and that is basically what it is," the Dutch coach remarked, acknowledging the depth of talent in the England pool and the fierce contest for places. Both players were told that the decision was difficult and that Wiegman still believes in their abilities.
"It has been a really hard decision for both of them. I really believe in them and we follow them really well and we expect a bit more and know they can bring more," she said.
Wiegman added that she hopes the two will use the feedback constructively and return stronger. "I hope they can step up and show what they can do because I'm convinced they can do better. They took the feedback well, in a positive way, but it is also hard to take.
It is not a nice message. I hope they respond on it really well. I hope they come back even better than they were before," she explained. The rest of the squad features a blend of experienced veterans and emerging talents.
Goalkeepers named are Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool) and Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City, on loan from Orlando Pride). The defensive line includes Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Niamh Charles (Manchester City), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit) and captain Leah Williamson (Arsenal), who returns after missing the June fixtures due to a hamstring issue. In midfield, the selections are Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendall (Aston Villa), Erica Meg Parkinson (North Carolina Courage), Lexi Potter (Chelsea), Georgia Stanway (Arsenal) and Keira Walsh (Chelsea).
The forward group comprises Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United) and Alessia Russo (Arsenal). Among the omissions alongside Toone and Kelly are Chelsea’s Aggie Beever‑Jones, Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben‑Moy and Taylor Hinds.
A notable positive development is the inclusion of 20‑year‑old Lexi Potter, who earns her first senior call‑up. Potter has started three of Chelsea’s first four league games and even contributed a goal in a 2‑0 win over Birmingham. Wiegman praised her progress, saying, "I think she's grown a lot.
Last season we kept a close eye on her because she was already getting into the squad but I think she has started this season really well. Her performances have really impressed us, so she really deserves this call‑up. She's shown at Chelsea she can start against any team.
What I've seen from her is she comes out on the pitch and just plays, she is comfortable, so I hope to see that next week." The squad also sees the return of Liverpool defender Grace Fisk and uncapped midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson, who made her debut for the North Carolina Courage in April. Manchester City full‑back Niamh Charles is back after recovering from injury and featuring as a substitute in the WSL champions’ 1‑0 victory over Charlton Athletic. England will contest a two‑legged tie against Greece, with the first match scheduled for October 9 at the Pankritio Stadium in Crete and the return fixture on October 13 at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium. Should the Lions triumph, they will advance to the next stage of the play‑offs, where they could face either Slovakia or Ukraine in November‑December.
The winner of that encounter will secure a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Wiegman emphasized the team’s mindset ahead of the fixtures: "We have great respect for Greece but our expectations of ourselves are clear.
We are here to win these two games, deliver strong performances, and move one step closer to securing our place at the World Cup. It's always exciting to reconnect as a group and we are looking forward to getting back together.
The players will arrive motivated and ready for the next steps. We are looking forward to travelling to Crete and playing Greece for the first time ever.
We will then return to Leicester, where we've enjoyed some good moments together in the past. We know our supporters will get behind the team again, and it will be great to play in front of them after a few months away." Off the pitch, Wiegman remains under contract until the end of the next World Cup cycle and has not yet signed a new deal that would extend her tenure beyond 2027. When asked about a potential extension during a recent press conference, she stressed her focus on the upcoming play‑offs. "We have regular conversations together and talk about the future at moments, but at this moment I'm just focusing on Greece and want to get through and qualify for the World Cup.
We always speak. Of course I talk to Mark [Bullingham, FA chief executive] every two weeks, and we talk about what is happening now and the future, but there is nothing new, we are focusing on Greece and then hopefully the World Cup," she said. Analysts such as Sky Sports' Anton Toloui have weighed in, noting that while Wiegman would not have wanted to drop two of her most trusted attackers, the statistics support the decision.
Toloui pointed out that Toone has struggled to replicate her usual creative spark under Manchester United’s new coach Eva Olid, with several key midfield metrics trending downward. Similarly, Kelly’s limited starts at Arsenal – only in a goalless draw against Crystal Palace and a narrow win over HB Koge, where she was substituted before a goal was scored – have impacted her match sharpness. Both players have a history of bouncing back from setbacks.
Kelly, for instance, was omitted from the squad four months before Euro 2025 but fought her way back to become a pivotal figure in England’s successful campaign. Toone, too, possesses the talent to rediscover her form and re‑earn her place. Their exclusion from the Greece play‑off squad may serve as a catalyst for renewed determination, and the coaching staff hopes the experience will ultimately benefit the national team’s depth and competitiveness.
The upcoming fixtures against Greece represent a crucial test for Wiegman’s side, offering a chance to demonstrate resilience, tactical flexibility, and the ability to integrate emerging talent while maintaining the high standards expected of England’s women’s national team.