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 both Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly. The decision has sparked discussion among fans and pundits, given the two players' profiles and recent club form.
Kelly has struggled to find regular minutes at Arsenal this season, having not completed a full 90‑minute spell and failing to start any matches. In fact, the last occasion she was omitted from an England call‑up was back in February 2025, making her exclusion this time particularly striking.
Toone, meanwhile, has been a regular starter for Manchester United in the Women's Super League, featuring in three league games. Despite that involvement, she did not play in United’s 1‑1 draw with Arsenal on 19 September, and Wiegman cited her recent performances as a key factor in the decision.
"The main reason is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch," Wiegman explained during the press briefing. "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 that travelled to Greece includes three goalkeepers—Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Liverpool) and Anna Moorhouse (Manchester City, on loan from Orlando Pride). The defensive line features a blend of experience and youth: 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). In midfield, Wiegman selected 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 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). Other notable omissions besides Toone and Kelly are Chelsea forward Aggie Beever‑Jones, Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben‑Moy and Taylor Hinds. However, there is good news for some players who missed recent matches due to injury.
Captain Leah Williamson, 29, returns after a hamstring problem kept her out of the 4‑0 loss to Spain and the 3‑0 win over Ukraine in June. Chelsea’s 20‑year‑old midfielder Lexi Potter earns 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, saying, "She has 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 make the list, the latter after her debut in April.
Manchester City full‑back Niamh Charles, who recovered from an injury and appeared as a substitute in the champions’ 1‑0 win over Charlton Athletic, is included as well. England will contest a two‑legged tie against Greece, with the first match set for 9 October at the Pankritio Stadium in Crete and the return fixture on 13 October at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium. Should the Lionesses prevail, they will advance to the second round of the play‑offs, where they could face either Slovakia or Ukraine in November‑December.
Victory at that stage would secure a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Wiegman emphasized the team’s mindset: "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." The coaching staff also addressed contract talks.
Wiegman, whose current deal runs until the end of the next World Cup, has not yet signed an extension that would keep her beyond 2027. When asked about progress on a new contract, she responded that her focus remains entirely on the Greece play‑offs and the subsequent World Cup qualification campaign.
"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." Analyst Anton Toloui of Sky Sports added his perspective, noting that while Wiegman would not have wanted to drop two trusted veterans, the statistics support the decision. He pointed out that Toone has struggled under Manchester United’s new head coach Eva Olid, with several key midfield metrics declining, and her recent lack of decisive moments mirrors her omission from the United‑Arsenal WSL clash. Kelly’s limited starts for Arsenal—only against Crystal Palace and HB Koge—have also weighed heavily on the selection. Both players, however, have previously rebounded from setbacks; Kelly famously returned to the squad after being left out before Euro 2025 and helped England win the tournament.
Toloui expects a similar resurgence for both athletes if they can translate their club performances into international form. The upcoming fixtures promise a crucial test for Wiegman’s side as they aim to cement their place among the world’s elite while navigating the delicate balance of squad rotation, player development, and the ever‑present pressure of World Cup qualification.