England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman, has announced a 23‑player roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifying play‑off against Greece, and the list notably excludes two of the Lionesses’ most recognizable attacking talents – Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly. Both players have been regular fixtures in the national team over recent years, yet they failed to make the cut for this crucial two‑leg tie. Kelly’s club situation provides part of the explanation.
The Arsenal forward has yet to register a full 90‑minute appearance this season and has not started a match for the Gunners. The last occasion she was omitted from an England squad dates back to February 2025, highlighting how unusual this exclusion is. Toone, meanwhile, has seen more playing time at Manchester United, starting three Women’s Super League games, but she was absent from United’s 1‑1 draw with Arsenal on 19 September.
Despite those minutes, Wiegman felt her performances did not meet the standards required for the play‑off. "The main reason is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch," Wiegman explained when questioned about the decision.
"I have had a conversation with them and there is big competition going on and that is basically what it is. 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." The coach added that she hopes the two will respond positively to the feedback. "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. I had the conversation with Chloe and it was just about what I saw on the pitch.
I kept with football with her [and Toone]." In addition to Toone and Kelly, several other players were left out, including Chelsea’s emerging striker Aggie Beever‑Jones, Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben‑Moy and Taylor Hinds. However, some familiar faces return: captain Leah Williamson, 29, is back after missing the June fixtures – a 4‑0 loss to Spain and a 3‑0 win over Ukraine – due to a hamstring problem.
The squad list also introduces a fresh face: 20‑year‑old Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter earns her first senior call‑up. Potter has started three of her club’s first four games and even got on the scoresheet in a 2‑0 win over Birmingham earlier in the month.
Wiegman praised her development, saying, "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." Other notable inclusions are goalkeeper Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool) and Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City, on loan from Orlando Pride); defenders 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 Leah Williamson (Arsenal). The midfield contingent features 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).
Up front, the attackers named are Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Beth Mead (Manchester City), Jess Park (Manchester United) and Alessia Russo (Arsenal). The play‑off will be contested over two legs – the first match at Crete’s Pankritio Stadium on 9 October, followed by a return fixture at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on 13 October. Should England, the reigning European champions and 2023 World Cup runners‑up, prevail, they will move on to the next stage of the play‑offs where they could face either Slovakia or Ukraine in a two‑legged tie later in November or December. The winner of that encounter will secure a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Wiegman underscored the team’s mindset ahead of the Greece games: "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." She also expressed enthusiasm about the venues: "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." Beyond the squad selection, Wiegman’s own contract situation was touched upon.
She remains under contract until the conclusion of the next summer’s World Cup, with negotiations for an extension beyond 2027 still pending. When asked about a new deal, she emphasized her focus on the immediate task: "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 CEO] 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." Analysts such as Sky Sports' Anton Toloui have weighed in, noting that while Wiegman would not have wanted to drop two trusted players, the statistics are hard to ignore. Toone’s form has dipped under United’s new manager Eva Olid, with several key midfield metrics trending downward, and her lack of impact against Arsenal was a clear sign. Kelly’s limited starts for Arsenal – only in a goalless draw with Crystal Palace and a narrow win over HB Koge before being substituted – have also contributed to her omission. Both players will now have to prove themselves at club level to earn a recall for future England assignments.
The Lionesses will aim to deliver a convincing performance against Greece, hoping to secure a place in the final World Cup qualifying round and keep their ambitions of lifting the trophy in Brazil alive.