- Wembley Triumph: England secured a vital 1-0 win over Spain in a repeat of the Euro 2025 final
- Hemp’s Early Strike: Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp provided the decisive moment
- Focus on History: Sarina Wiegman’s side now look ahead to milestone fixture but against who?
It was a huge night on Tuesday 14 April for Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifications as two of the world’s greatest went head-to-head once again in a repeat of the Euro 2025 final.
Under the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium, the ghosts of the Euro 2025 final were together once again as England and Spain reignited their fierce rivalry in a high-stakes Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifier.
In a repeat of the European showpiece that captivated the continent just a year ago, the Lionesses once again found the edge, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over their Spanish counterparts.
The breakthrough came almost before the capacity crowd had settled into their seats. With just three minutes on the clock, Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp produced a moment of pure technical brilliance, meeting a cross with a clinical volley that flew into the back of the net to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
It was a goal that would prove to be the difference, solidifying England’s position at the top of their group and reinforcing Sarina Wiegman’s reputation for masterminding results in the biggest of moments.
As the final whistle blew, the celebrations at Wembley served as a powerful reminder that while the road to Brazil 2027 is long, the Lionesses remain the team to beat.
“We’re really happy”
Speaking with the media post-match, England head coach Sarina Wiegman was happy with the result. But she knows that momentum is crucial for the remaining three qualifier games coming up later this year.
“It was a very good result. We’re really happy, but we need to keep that significance by getting a result [against Iceland] and of course then we have Ukraine and Spain again, so that’s really important now.”
After achieving major finals three tournaments in a row, Lionesses fans have high expectations for the future of this team and Wiegman’s leadership into the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
What’s next?
The Lionesses have three more games left in their qualification group for the upcoming World Cup. They face Iceland on Saturday, a milestone game in the history of the England Women’s National Team, marking 500 international matches.
Later on in June, England will travel to Spain and host Ukraine at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, home of Everton FC.
Should England qualify for the World Cup, fans will expect more from what was seen at the 2025 Euros. The Euros in Switzerland brought many nervy moments for Lionesses fans as the knockout stages of the tournament brought a sense of anxiety and worry against both Sweden in the quarterfinals, and Italy in the semi-finals.
As the game grows globally, there is less margin for error for the Lionesses, and complacency is not an option. Wiegman speaks a lot about mindset, and that is crucial for success.
It was an important win on home soil last night which has fuelled this urge for success. “Of course, we really had to win in our stadium with all of the celebrations we had. Tomorrow, we really need to have our mindset, get prepared for Iceland because that’s going to be some challenge again.”
Wiegman’s legacy as England boss
Wiegman has not just made England successful, she has made winning the expectation. When England lifted the 2022 Women’s Euro on home soil it felt like something had clicked.
The culmination of years of investment, growing visibility and near-misses had finally achieved silverware. By the time the 2023 Women’s World Cup came, there was a shift in tone and attitude towards the team. England were no longer competitors, but favourites to win.
These expectations are justified. Having a world class proven manager at the helm, Wiegman’s previous track record demands wins. This is where pressure intensifies. Managing England is more than just winning games. It is about navigating the expectations set by the fans.
Wiegman is hands down the best manager this team has ever seen, and is starting to integrate youth into the squad, which has been a previous criticism of her style.
Seeing 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang thrive at the Euros, and having 17-year-old Erica Parkinson in the squad, shows that Wiegman is now looking into the future as some of her most trusted players look to international retirement.
Now the expectation from Lionesses fans is to fill the empty space in the trophy cabinet and bring back the World Cup from Brazil in 2027.
