England Women’s World Cup squad LIVE! Confirmed list, Sarina Wiegman announcement and Lionesses updates

England manager Sarina Wiegman has completed the difficult task of selecting her 23-player squad for the Women’s World Cup amid a raft of injuries to key players.

The Dutch manager unveiled her selection on Wednesday, 50 days before the World Cup kicks off on July 20. There is a return for striker Bethany England while defender Millie Bright is included despite a recent injury.

The Lionesses, who won bronze in 2015 and were fourth four years ago in France, begin their World Cup campaign on July 22 against Haiti in Brisbane. They also have Denmark and China in Group D.

The European champions have been rocked by a number of serious injuries, sidelining captain Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby among others and creating significant selection dilemmas for Wiegman.

Bethany England has been included in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup, while Beth Mead misses out.

Striker England, who has not been involved for her country since last September, is recalled after scoring 12 Women’s Super League goals for Tottenham since joining them from Chelsea in January.

But there is no return for Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner and player of the tournament Mead, having lost her battle against time after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November.

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze, also sidelined of late, do feature in a 23-player list from which skipper Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby had already been ruled out due to injury.

Jordan Nobbs is included as well, despite sustaining an injury in Aston Villa’s penultimate game of the season, Katie Zelem has been brought back after not making the last squad in April and there is no recall for Williamson’s predecessor as captain Steph Houghton.

Jess Park, Maya Le Tissier and Emily Ramsey have been named on standby.

Wiegman’s European champions get their campaign at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand under way by facing Haiti in Brisbane on July 22 and will also take on Denmark and China in Group D.

England World Cup squad announcement latest news

• England squad in full

Thanks for joining us!

15:29 , Marc Mayo

England have confirmed their squad for the Women’s World Cup later this summer.

Sarina Wiegman has given her verdicts on the likes of Bethany England and Millie Bright, who have made the 23-player selection, and Beth Mead, who has not.

Read the full story!

Sarina Wiegman on captain Millie Bright

14:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

“I haven’t told her she will be the captain that is how we have been all the time. We have just talked about football. She was selected and where she is at right now. We haven’t really spoken about that yet.”

Bethany England rewarded

14:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

Sarina Wiegman speaks

14:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

“The last week was a little stressful we had to make hard decision, it’s nice for the ones that are in and not nice for those who aren’t.

“Lucy Bronze is fit and is fully in training, Millie Bright is in a good place and positive she is still building but it looks good.”

Millie Bright’s reaction

14:19 , Jonathan Gorrie

Standby list

14:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

Ramsey

Park

Le Tissier

Millie Bright makes it!

14:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

Brilliant news for the Chelsea defender who, at one point, looked destined to miss out.

Rewarded

14:08 , Jonathan Gorrie

No place for Beth Mead

14:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arsenal forward Beth Mead has been left out of England’s World Cup squad after failing to get fit in time.

Mead injured her knee in November of last year and always faced a fight to be fit for this summer’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand after undergoing surgery.

England boss Sarina Wiegman said in March that Mead needed a “miracle” to be fit for the World Cup and she has been left out of the squad.

Latest World Cup odds

14:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Betfair: 2023 Women’s World Cup winner

USA: 11/4

England: 10/3

Spain: 6/1

Germany: 13/2

France: 10/1

Australia: 13/1

Sweden: 16/1

Netherlands: 19/1

Brazil: 22/1

Canada: 30/1

Japan: 33/1

Italy, Norway: 50/1

South Korea: 66/1

Denmark, Portugal: 80/1

China, Republic of Ireland: 100/1

Colombia, Switzerland: 200/1

Philippines, Vietnam, Panama, Zambia, Costa Rica, South Africa, Argentina, Morocco, Jamaica, Nigeria, Haiti: 500/1

No place for Steph Houghton

14:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

There was also no place for former Lionesses captain Steph Houghton. The 35-year-old has not played for England since 2021, but was tipped for a possible recall due to current skipper Leah Williamson being out with a knee injury.

England squad in full

14:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

Goalkeepers: Earps, Hampton, Roebuck

Defenders: Bright, Bronze, Carter, Charles, Greenwood, Morgan, Wubben-Moy

Midfielders: Coombs, Nobbs, Stanway, Toone, Walsh, Zelem

Forwards: Daly, England, Hemp, James, Kelly, Robinson, Russo

Here we go!

13:53 , Jonathan Gorrie

Wiegman will name her squad any minute now!

The scene is set

13:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

Closing in now!

13:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

Dreams will be made in just a few minutes’ time...

The key questions: The attack

13:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

Attack is where England are at their strongest. Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Daly, Lauren Hemp and Lauren James are certainties for places on the plane. That would usually leave one more spot, with Wiegman a fan of Brighton youngster Katie Robinson.

Nikita Parris, however, has impressed after leaving Arsenal for Manchester United and offers a wealth of experience. Bethany England is also in contention, after scoring 14 WSL goals, more than Russo, to keep Tottenham up in the top flight.

Such attacking riches may tempt Wiegman into loading her squad with attackers at the expense of taking another defender and midfielder. The fact Daly can play left-back helps and could even open up a spot for Mead.

It would be a huge gamble by Wiegman, given Mead has not played since November, but one that will be tempting, as the forward was the top scorer at Euro 2022 and runner-up in the Ballon d’Or.

They key questions: The midfield

13:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

Ella Toone, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh will go as the starting midfield trio, with Jordan Nobbs and Laura Coombs the likely back-ups.

Simon Collings

13:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

It will be interesting to see the split of Wiegman’s squad. Given the options she has in attack it would make sense to take one less defender, and bring another forward instead. Beth England, who has 12 in her last 12 WSL games, is someone pushing sneak in.

The key questions: England’s defence

12:43 , Jonathan Gorrie

The defensive spots are wide open. Millie Bright has not played since March due to a knee injury, but Wiegman is backing her to be fit in time to captain the side. Right-back Lucy Bronze remains from the back-four who won Euro 2022, but two new players are needed, as Williamson is injured and left-back Rachel Daly has played up front for Aston Villa this season and was the Women’s Super League top scorer.

Alex Greenwood and Jess Carter will go, with both offering cover at centre-back and left-back. Lotte Wubben-Moy’s club form makes her a strong contender, while Esme Morgan, Lucy Parker, Maya Le Tissier and Niamh Charles are pushing to make the cut.

The biggest defensive decision for Wiegman is whether she recalls former captain Steph Houghton, who has not played for the Lionesses since 2021. Wiegman named Houghton in her very first squad, but she was forced to pull out due to injury. The 35-year-old has not been called up since.

Simon Collings

12:38 , Jonathan Gorrie

90 minutes to go and the person everyone wants to know whether they are in or out is Beth Mead. Personally, I just can’t see Wiegman taking her. The fact it is only 23-player squads makes it such a gamble. Surely you can’t have someone who hasn’t kicked a ball since November?

Latest Women’s World Cup odds

12:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

Betfair: 2023 Women’s World Cup winner

USA: 11/4

England: 10/3

Spain: 6/1

Germany: 13/2

France: 10/1

Australia: 13/1

Sweden: 16/1

Netherlands: 19/1

Brazil: 22/1

Canada: 30/1

Japan: 33/1

Italy, Norway: 50/1

The key questions facing Wiegman

12:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

There is most certainty over selection in goal. Mary Earps will be the No1, with Ellie Roebuck as back-up. Hannah Hampton should take the third spot, as Sandy MacIver is injured, but there is even some doubt around that. Hampton was left out of England squads after last summer’s Euros amid reports of poor attitude and she was only recalled in March, when Wiegman said she had sorted out some personal issues.

Simon Collings in Sutton Coldfield

12:15 , Jonathan Gorrie

A very different feel to this squad announcement. We are at a community football club here in Sutton Coldfield, which is busy with local parents and kids. It’s all part of Wiegman and the FA wanting to stress the importance of the grassroots game.

How many players will Wiegman name in her World Cup squad?

12:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

All World Cup squads will include 23 players.

There are no standby or reserve options.

Where to watch England’s squad announcement

12:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

You can keep across the entire press conference on the Lionesses’s social media channels.

Welcome

12:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of England’s World Cup squad announcement.

Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman will announce her 23-women list at 2pm at Sutton Coldfield’s Central Ground.