England’s senior women’s team will take the field against Greece in the upcoming World Cup qualifying play‑off without two of its most recognizable attacking talents, Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly, as head coach Sarina Wiegman unveiled a 23‑player roster for the two‑legged tie. The decision comes after a period of limited playing time for both athletes at their respective clubs.
Kelly, who has struggled to break into Arsenal’s starting eleven this season, has not yet completed a full 90‑minute match and has only featured as a substitute on a handful of occasions. The last time she missed an England call‑up was back in February 2025, making her omission this time particularly noteworthy. Toone, meanwhile, has been a regular starter for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League, appearing in three league fixtures, but she was absent from United’s 1‑1 draw with Arsenal on September 19 and failed to make the national squad.
Wiegman explained that the primary factor behind the exclusions was performance level. "The main reason is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch," she said, adding that the competition for places is fierce and that the decision was difficult for both players. "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.
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]." The squad list features a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging prospects. In goal, England has called up 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). Williamson, who missed the June fixtures—a 4‑0 loss to Spain and a 3‑0 win over Ukraine—due to a hamstring problem, returns to the squad.
Midfield 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). Up front, the forwards 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). A few notable names were left out alongside Toone and Kelly.
Chelsea’s Aggie Beever‑Jones, Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben‑Moy and Taylor Hinds also did not make the cut. However, there are encouraging returns: Lexi Potter, the 20‑year‑old Chelsea midfielder, earned her first senior call‑up after starting three of her club’s first four games and scoring in a 2‑0 victory over Birmingham. Wiegman praised Potter’s development, 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." Defender Grace Fisk (Liverpool) and uncapped midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson (North Carolina Courage) also return, while Manchester City full‑back Niamh Charles makes the squad after recovering from injury and featuring as a substitute in the City’s 1‑0 win over Charlton Athletic.
England will contest a double‑header against Greece, first at the Pankritio Stadium in Crete on October 9, followed by a return leg at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on October 13. Should the Lionesses prevail, they will advance to the second round of the World Cup play‑offs, where they will meet either Slovakia or Ukraine over two legs in November and December. Victory in that tie would secure a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Wiegman emphasized the team’s respect for Greece but reiterated England’s own ambitions: "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 through the end of the next summer’s World Cup and has not yet signed a new agreement that would extend her tenure beyond 2027.
When asked about a potential extension during a press conference, she stressed that her focus is entirely on the upcoming Greece fixtures. "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." Analysts such as Sky Sports' Anton Toloui note that while Wiegman would not have wanted to drop two trusted players, the statistics support the decision. Toone’s form has dipped under Manchester United’s new manager Eva Olid, with several key midfield metrics trending downward, and her recent lack of impact against Arsenal underscores that decline.
Kelly’s limited starts at Arsenal—only two, against Crystal Palace and HB Køge—have also contributed to her omission. Both players have previously bounced back from setbacks; Kelly, for instance, was left out four months before Euro 2025, fought her way back into the squad, and became a hero in England’s successful campaign.
The hope is that they will use this exclusion as motivation to return stronger for future selections. The upcoming matches against Greece represent a crucial test for Wiegman's side, offering a chance to re‑establish momentum and demonstrate depth despite the notable absences.
The Lionesses will need to blend experience with the fresh energy of newcomers like Potter and the returning veterans to secure the results they need to keep their World Cup aspirations alive.