England Avoid Defeat in Mallorca to Seal 2027 World Cup Spot — Lionesses
lionesses can book their place at the 2027 Women's World Cup by avoiding defeat against Spain in Mallorca on Friday. A result there would leave England with an unassailable lead in Group A3 and secure qualification more than one year early.
Spain and England in Mallorca
England sit top of Group A3 after four matches, with four wins from four and just one goal conceded. That record gives Sarina Wiegman a clear route to qualification before the group ends, with Ukraine still to come at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on June 9 if England get the result in Mallorca.
The fixture also extends a rivalry that has become a constant for both sides. Spain and England will meet for the seventh time in less than four years, and this will be the fourth meeting since last June. England won three of the four meetings with Spain since the 2023 Women's World Cup final, including both of the last two Euros.
Bronze and James available
Lucy Bronze is fit to start after injury worries, and Lauren James is also fit to start. Those options matter for England because they were not able to count on a fully settled side in some of the recent meetings with Spain, including the win at Wembley in April without Leah Williamson.
Bronze framed the mood around the rivalry bluntly: "It's a rivalry that's made us both stronger." England trained in the middle of a hot day in Mallorca before the match, with the workload set against a Spain side that has often forced them to absorb pressure and wait for openings.
From Barcelona to Wembley
The last time England played Spain in Spain, they were clearly the second best team on the pitch in Barcelona. They went 1-0 up but struggled to build momentum, and Claudia Pina scored twice off the bench to turn the match.
That history gives Friday a sharper edge than the group table alone. England lost the 2023 Women's World Cup final to Spain, but they have since taken three of the four meetings and can now settle qualification with one match still left to play. For Wiegman, the task is simple: avoid defeat, leave Mallorca with the point, and remove the last step from the group.
