The Lionesses: 2025 and What Comes Next

Amelie Kirk
Jan 14
4 min read

If 2025 had a soundtrack, it would be stadium noise at full volume, the tension of penalty shootouts and that collective pause before the biggest moments. This year was not neat. It was demanding, dramatic and relentless and England met it head on. Because when the pressure peaked, the Lionesses did what elite teams do best: they stayed composed and delivered.

Beyond the silverware, 2025 was also a year of movement. New players arrived and mattered. Established names signed off. And England proved that success for this team is not about repeating the same formula, but about evolving without losing control.

UEFA Women’s EURO 2025

England’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 defence opened with an immediate reality check. A 2–1 defeat to France in the group stage sharpened focus quickly and brought familiar questions about whether holders could do it again under even heavier scrutiny.

The response was emphatic. A 4–0 win over the Netherlands flipped the mood entirely, followed by a convincing 6–1 victory over Wales that secured progression and restored momentum. England looked settled again, purposeful and direct.

From there, the EUROs became a test of nerve as much as quality. A quarter-final against Sweden finished level before being settled on penalties. A semi-final against Italy stretched into extra time. Then came the final against Spain, 1–1 after extra time and drifting toward the one place England have recently made their second home: the penalty spot. The Lionesses held their nerve. Hannah Hampton produced under pressure, Chloe Kelly stepped up for the decisive penalty and England retained the UEFA Women’s EURO title away from home.

A year that never slowed down

The EUROs were the centrepiece, but 2025 was never a victory lap. Early in the year, England laid important groundwork with a 1–0 win over Spain at Wembley and a dominant 5–0 home victory against Belgium. A tougher away defeat to the same Belgian side offered lessons rather than alarms, sharpening focus ahead of the summer.

Post-EUROs, autumn fixtures became about continuity and depth. England fell narrowly to Brazil, then responded with a confident 3–0 win over Australia. The year ended with authority, including an 8–0 victory over China at Wembley and a 2–0 win over Ghana, reinforcing both attacking power and squad rotation.

The pattern was clear. This team does not rely on one moment, one tournament or one version of itself.

New faces, real impact

One of the defining strengths of 2025 was how deliberately England expanded the squad. Across the year, Sarina Wiegman widened the circle with intent, bringing new players into the senior environment not as passengers, but as genuine options.

Spring brought first senior call-ups for Maisie Symonds and Ella Morris, while Michelle Agyemang’s arrival immediately shifted the conversation. On her senior debut against Belgium, Agyemang scored within seconds of coming on, a moment that turned promise into expectation instantly.

After the EUROs, that approach accelerated rather than paused. Lucia Kendall, Katie Reid, Taylor Hinds, Grace Fisk and Anouk Denton all earned first senior call-ups across the autumn windows, with Freya Godfrey also added to the senior group later in the year. These were not symbolic inclusions. New players were trusted with minutes and responsibility, with Kendall closing the year by scoring her first senior England goal against Ghana.

Saying goodbye

Progress also meant acknowledging the end of an era. During 2025, Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright each retired from international football, closing chapters that shaped England’s modern identity.

Not every goodbye was perfectly tidy, but the respect for what they gave England is not in question. These were players who raised standards, delivered in huge moments and helped define a generation. England move forward with fresh energy, but they do it carrying that legacy with them.

The awards glow-up

The biggest prize was always the UEFA Women’s EURO trophy, but 2025 also came with serious recognition for the people driving it. Sarina Wiegman picked up the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year award, while Michelle Agyemang won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, which is a very strong way to announce yourself to the wider sporting public.

On the global stage, Wiegman was also named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2025 and Hannah Hampton won The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper 2025.

And at the Ballon d’Or awards, England had more to celebrate: Wiegman was recognised as Women’s Team Coach of the Year and Hampton landed major goalkeeper honours there too.

What to expect in 2026

2026 is where the serious business begins. England shift straight into 2027 World Cup qualifying mode, with six competitive matches across spring and early summer and very little room for error. The headline dates are already circled in red. The Lionesses face their biggest rivals, Spain, twice in eight weeks, first at Wembley on 14 April 2026, then away on 5 June 2026, in a double-header that could decide the entire group.

Finish top and England book a direct ticket to the World Cup. Slip up and the path gets messy, fast. With additional qualifiers against Iceland and Ukraine to navigate, this is less about vibes and more about precision. Win the Spain battles, take care of business everywhere else and qualification is firmly in England’s hands.

If England do not finish top of their qualifying group, the World Cup dream is not over, but the journey gets a lot less cute. Instead of qualifying automatically, the Lionesses would be sent into the European play-offs later in 2026, where multiple teams are fighting over a limited number of remaining World Cup spots. There is no safety net here. A bad night, a tough draw or one scrappy game can undo months of work. It means more matches, more pressure and far less control over the outcome. England would still fancy their chances, but it is the longer, louder and far more stressful route. Which is exactly why winning the group is the goal.

What 2025 showed

2025 was the year dreams were realised and decisions were made. Titles were defended, legacies were honoured and the next generation stepped forward without hesitation. Now comes the follow-up. 2026 is about focus, consistency and proving that success was never a moment, but a mindset. The question is no longer whether the Lionesses can rise to the occasion. It is whether they can keep it going, one qualifier at a time. And honestly, I am already hovering over “confirm” on my 2027 flight to Brazil.