England women's national football team

England
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Lionesses[1]
AssociationThe Football Association (The FA)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachSarina Wiegman
CaptainLeah Williamson
Most capsFara Williams (172)
Top scorerEllen White (58)
Home stadiumWembley Stadium and others[a]
FIFA codeENG
First colours
Second colours
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FIFA ranking
Current 2 Increase 1 (16 August 2024)[3]
Highest2 (March 2018; March 2024; August 2024)
Lowest14 (June 2004 – September 2005)
First international
 Scotland 2–3 England 
(Greenock, Scotland; 18 November 1972)
Biggest win
 England 20–0 Latvia 
(Doncaster, England; 30 November 2021)
Biggest defeat
 Norway 8–0 England 
(Moss, Norway; 4 June 2000)
World Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1995)
Best resultRunners-up (2023)
European Championship
Appearances9 (first in 1984)
Best resultChampions (2022)
Nations League
Appearances1 (first in 2023–24)
Best result5th (2023–24)
Finalissima
Appearances1 (first in 2023)
Best resultChampions (2023)
WebsiteOfficial website

The England women's national football team, nicknamed the Lionesses, has been governed by the Football Association (FA) since 1993, having been previously administered by the Women's Football Association (WFA). England played its first international match in November 1972 against Scotland. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, England is permitted by FIFA statutes, as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations, to maintain a national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

England have qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup six times, reaching the quarter-finals in 1995, 2007 and 2011, finishing fourth in 2019, third in 2015 and as runners-up in 2023. Since 2019, England, as the highest-ranked Home Nation, have been able to qualify an Olympic team on behalf of Great Britain; other British players may be selected in the event of qualification.

They reached the final of the UEFA Women's Championship in 1984 and 2009, and won in 2022, marking the first time since 1966 that any England senior football team had won a major championship. England have also competed in the UEFA Women's Nations League since the inaugural 2023–24 season.

  1. ^ "Women's EURO 2022 inside track: England". UEFA.com. 2 July 2022.
  2. ^ Association, The Football. "Match Centre: England 1-2 France". www.englandfootball.com.
  3. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.


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