England v Spain live: Team news and latest updates as Lionesses face rivals in World Cup qualifier at Wembley – UK Times

England XI: Hampton; Bronze, Wubben-Moy, Morgan, Greenwood; Kendall, Walsh, Stanway; Hemp, Russo, James.

Spain XI: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Mapi Leon, Carmona; Caldentey, Guijarro, Putellas; Lopez, Gonzalez, Pina.

Over 73,000 tickets have been issued for tonight’s match. England have lost just one of their last 11 games played at Wembley – a 4-3 defeat to Germany in October 2024 – while the Lionesses have not lost a World Cup qualifier at home since October 2002.

They have won 22 games, drawing two, but have not faced a calibre of opponent such as Spain.

There are loud cheers as Mary Earps is presented with a framed shirt and bouquet of flowers on the pitch at Wembley to celebrate the former England goalkeeper and mark her contribution to the Lionesses. The Euro 2022 winner also received a warm hug from Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Alessia Russo, as England headed off the pitch at the end of their warm-up. Sarina Wiegman wanted Earps to get the send-off she deserves and there were not any boos following her comments about Hannah Hampton published in her autobiography All In.

England manager Sarina Wiegman chats to ITV.

On the absent Leah Williamson, she says: “Yeah, she’s going in the right direction. This was just a little bit too early and we don’t want to take a risk with her.”

On new centre-back pairing of Morgan and Wubben-Moy: “Of course, last camp they played together too and in training. They lead the defence with Alex and Lucy and we want to be organised in possession and out.”

On Lucia Kendall: “She has done really well. She understands what we want to do and I hope she can express herself tonight.”

On Keira Walsh’s 100th cap: “An absolutely special moment for her and good timing, playing at Wembley against Spain. A great game.

“It shows what she has done for English football, hopefully a lot more to come and I hope she has a great game tonight.”

“It shows what she has done for the game, what she has done for England. She is an inspiration for so many people, particularly young goalkeepers. She deserves a great farewell. I hope we celebrate her and it will be a nice moment.

“I think some people have been disappointed, some people will be thinking she is inspirational, everyone will have an opinion. But let’s cherish the moments we had together. Mary had a great career and for us was the world’s best. She played important games and now she has moved on. Let’s all celebrate her.”

The FA has made efforts to honour former England players following their international retirements and there was a send-off for Euros winner Fran Kirby before the friendly against China in November, as well as former captain Steph Houghton before a friendly with Germany in October 2024.

Earps will be on the Wembley pitch shortly to commemorate a brilliant England career that saw her win 53 caps for her country, win Euro 2022 and reach the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.

England manager Sarina Wiegman hopes Mary Earps will get the retirement send-off she “deserves” ahead of a celebration for the former Lionesses goalkeeper before the World Cup qualifier against Spain at Wembley on Tuesday.

Earps retired from international duty ahead of Euro 2025 last year after playing a key role for the Lionesses in their Euro 2022 triumph and run to the 2023 World Cup final that saw her recognised as the world’s best.

But after losing her place to Hannah Hampton before last year’s Euros, Earps went on to criticise Wiegman’s decision to restore Hampton to the Lionesses squad in her autobiography ‘All In’.

The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper has played just once in England since her book was published, when making her return to former club Manchester United in the Women’s Champions League. On that night there were some boos as well as cheers.

Lauren James was so influential at Wembley last year when England beat Spain 1-0 in the Nations League.

The forward was forced off in the Euros final, however, after struggling with injury following her monumental efforts in the quarter-final against Sweden.

She will be pivotal to England’s hopes of keeping the ball in their chances with possession.

Lucy Bronze has set her sights on playing for England at the 2027 World Cup and is relishing the opportunity to face Spain once again at Wembley.

Bronze, who was key in England’s victory at Euro 2025 while playing the tournament with a fractured tibia, looked ahead to the game with ITV.

“We have a lot of respect for Spain. Us two together are two of the powerhouses in women’s football… we absolutely love playing them because it challenges you.

“It’s one of the most challenging games you can play. Winning against Spain confirms you deserve it because they are such a good team.”

Spain will be missing the injured Aitana Bonmati, who has been sidelined since breaking her leg in training in December, and there could be some new players on show as well.

The world champions have changed coaches since the Euros with Sonia Bermudez replacing Montse Tome following their Euros final defeat to England.

“Their DNA stays the same,” Sarina Wiegman said. “They really want to have the ball, play dynamically and go forward, in possession or out of possession.”

Spain, meanwhile, will be hungry for revenge and for a famous Wembley win.

Their rivalry with England has developed with Arsenal beating Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final last season before the Euros final followed a similar pattern.

There will be many in the Spain side beaten on both days, such as Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Claudia Pina, and Irene Parades, who may feel English opponents are owed one.

England captain Leah Williamson has not won her race to be fit in time for tonight’s clash, meaning a special night for Keira Walsh just got even bigger as she will wear the captain’s armband on her 100th cap.