Williamson returns for World Cup qualifiers

England captain Leah Williamson returns to the squad for the first time since Euro 2025 as they prepare to begin their 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Williamson, 28, missed England's friendly victories over China, Ghana and Australia as well as their defeat by Brazil at the end of 2025 due to a knee injury.

The Arsenal defender had surgery after lifting England's second successive European title in July and returned to action at the start of December.

"It's really nice to have her back. She's still building but she's in a very good place. I've been in contact with her and with her club," manager Sarina Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"It's good that she's in our camp, training and playing, and also with other players who have been injured. We're missing some but it gives opportunities for others.

"There are players we definitely need to manage ahead of this camp. We go with 25 players so we have some room to change and figure things out."

Several big names return to the squad including Chelsea forward Lauren James, Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.

James, 24, was absent for four months with an ankle injury before returning in November and is now back to full fitness.

She impressed in Sunday's win over Liverpool and boosts Wiegman's attacking options with Arsenal's Beth Mead out with a fractured shin.

Greenwood, 32, missed the start of the season with a knee injury while Hampton had a thigh issue which ruled her out of the November camp.

There is a first senior call-up for London City Lionesses defender Poppy Pattinson, while uncapped 20-year-old Freya Godfrey retains her place in the squad.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck also earns a recall, with Manchester City's Khiara Keating dropping out of the squad.

"[Roebuck] came in the last camp of course because we had some injuries. She has got some minutes [with Villa] so it's really good to see her back, see her happy and being available. She is playing and training fully," added Wiegman.

"Keating will be with the under-23s. We all know she is a very talented goalkeeper. I had big concerns about her playing minutes over this last season.

"It's a long period of time. There is also competition with the other goalkeepers."

Gotham FC defender Jess Carter is back after she was given time to recover from the conclusion of the National Women's Soccer League play-offs in November.

England are without Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone, who is out with a hip injury until the end of March.

Bay FC defender Anouk Denton, 22, who made her debut as a late substitute in December, is not included in the squad.

The Lionesses travel to Turkey to face Ukraine on Tuesday, 3 March (17:00 GMT) before hosting Iceland at the City Ground on Saturday, 7 March (12:30).

They are the first competitive games since England's success in Switzerland and they will meet reigning world champions Spain later in their qualifying group.

There are eight international windows before England hope to travel to Brazil for the World Cup between 24 June and 25 July 2027.

"It's really exciting. We had the friendly games in autumn which were good to play. They were good experiences and learnings," Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Now the cycle is really starting going into the World Cup qualifiers so I'm really looking forward to it.

"I really like that we have some opponents that we haven't played for a long time or with this generation. It's nice."

London City Lionesses defender Pattinson has featured for England's youth teams and is the latest to make the jump up to the senior squad.

She follows in the footsteps of team-mate Godfrey, who is yet to make her debut having been selected for the friendlies against Ghana and China.

Wiegman was at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday to watch Pattinson in London City Lionesses' 2-1 defeat by Manchester United and delivered the news of her England call-up this week.

"It was a short conversation but she was really happy and really grateful. She can't wait to come in so that was a nice phone call," Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"She deserved the call-up because she has played really well. What we have seen the most is that she is very proactive and takes a lot of initiative.

"She can cover the whole wing on the left side. At the same time, she wants to play forward and is looking for passes forward which I thought was really good.

"Although she is not the tallest, she does use her body well in defence. Let's see how she relates to the other players we have in the squad."

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride), Ellie Roebuck (Aston Villa)

Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Jess Carter (Gotham), Grace Fisk (Liverpool), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Taylor Hinds (Arsenal), Poppy Pattinson (London City Lionesses), Leah Williamson (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea), Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Lucia Kendell (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Jess Park (Manchester United)

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