England Lionesses Launch World Cup Qualification Bid Against Ukraine
England's women's national football team, the Lionesses, will commence their qualification journey for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup with a crucial match against Ukraine tonight. This fixture marks the opening of their campaign to secure a spot in the prestigious global tournament, following a highly successful 2025 that saw them clinch a second consecutive European Championship under manager Sarina Wiegman.
Match Details and Broadcast Information
The encounter is scheduled to take place at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey, with kick-off set for 5:00 PM GMT on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the match will be televised live on ITV4, with pre-match coverage beginning at 4:30 PM GMT. Additionally, fans can stream the game online via the ITVX platform, ensuring widespread accessibility for supporters eager to follow the action.
Team News and Key Returns
England's squad sees the welcome return of captain Leah Williamson, who has been included for the first time since the Euro 2025 final after recovering from a significant knee injury. She is joined by other notable returnees such as goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, defender Alex Greenwood, and forward Lauren James. In a positive development, Poppy Pattinson from London City Lionesses has received her first senior call-up, earning a spot at left-back. However, the team will be without midfielder Ella Toone, who is sidelined due to a hip injury.
On the Ukrainian side, the attack is expected to be spearheaded by Glasgow City striker Nicole Kozlova, who has been in impressive form this season with nine goals and five assists in Scotland's top division. Her performance could be pivotal for Ukraine as they aim to challenge the strong English lineup.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Ukraine Predicted XI: Samson; Korsun, Kotik, Shainyuk, Shmatko; Kozlova, Kalinina, Petryk, Semkiv, Ovdiychuk; Kravchuk.
England Predicted XI: Hampton; Bronze, Le Tissier, Greenwood, Hinds; Walsh, Stanway; James, Park, Hemp; Russo.
Context and Expectations
This match serves as the curtain-raiser for England's World Cup qualifying group, which also includes defending champions Spain. The clash with Spain later in the campaign is anticipated to be decisive in determining the group winner and automatic qualification. However, Wiegman's side will be focused on avoiding any early setbacks against Ukraine, aiming to build momentum from their recent European success. The Lionesses are driven by the desire to avenge their heartbreaking loss to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final in Australia, setting their sights on global glory in 2027.
