As European champions, the Lionesses are one of the favourites for the trophy. But who is in their World Cup squad?
England will be one of the favourites to win this summer's Women's World Cup after triumphing at the Euros in 2022, beating Germany to lift their first major international title in front of a home crowd at Wembley.
It was a second successive triumph for head coach Sarina Wiegman, who lifted the same trophy with her native Netherlands in 2017. Two years after that, she led the country to a World Cup final.
Can she repeat the trick? The Lionesses will certainly believe they can help her to do as much – and even go one further – such is the confidence that Euros victory has given them.
With Ellen White and Jill Scott (now Queen of the Jungle as well as a champion of Europe) retiring after that success, there will be a few changes to the team Wiegman calls upon for this tournament.
But who has made her 23-player World Cup squad? GOAL takes a look…
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GOALKEEPERS
Mary Earps is England's No.1 goalkeeper and it is unlikely that will change before this summer's World Cup.
Ellie Roebuck will be Earps' back up while Aston Villa's Hannah Hampton has beaten out competition from Emily Ramsey to claim the third spot.
Despite being part of the Euros squad last summer, Hampton missed out on several squads during the 2022-23 season, with Wiegman citing "personal issues" as the reason. However, she returned in April and kept her place when the final World Cup squad was announced in late May.
| Name |
Club |
| Mary Earps |
Manchester United |
| Hannah Hampton |
Aston Villa |
| Ellie Roebuck |
Manchester City |
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DEFENDERS
England were dealt an absolutely massive blow heading into the World Cup when captain Leah Williamson was ruled out with an ACL injury in April.
It is likely to mean that Alex Greenwood slots in at centre-back alongside Millie Bright, who takes the armband. Lucy Bronze will start on the right, while the versatile trio of Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Niamh Charles compete for the left-back role.
Lotte Wubben-Moy will provide cover in the centre-back positions, with Carter and Morgan also capable of playing in the heart of defence.
| Name |
Club |
| Millie Bright |
Chelsea |
| Lucy Bronze |
Barcelona |
| Jess Carter |
Chelsea |
| Niamh Charles |
Chelsea |
| Alex Greenwood |
Manchester City |
| Esme Morgan |
Manchester City |
| Lotte Wubben-Moy |
Arsenal |
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MIDFIELDERS
Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone will make up Wiegman's first choice midfield this summer, with Fran Kirby unfortunately ruled out of the tournament through injury.
The midfield group is then completed by three players who did not go to the Euros last summer. Jordan Nobbs is in, a January switch to Aston Villa paying dividends, while Manchester United captain Katie Zelem and Manchester City star Laura Coombs both get ready for their first major tournaments.
Coombs won her first call-up since late 2020, and her first cap in eight years, back in February.
| Name |
Club |
| Laura Coombs |
Manchester City |
| Jordan Nobbs |
Aston Villa |
| Georgia Stanway |
Bayern Munich |
| Ella Toone |
Manchester United |
| Keira Walsh |
Barcelona |
| Katie Zelem |
Manchester United |
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FORWARDS
There's a lot of competition for the starting centre forward role in this squad, with Alessia Russo, Rachel Daly and Beth England all set to battle for the position.
Russo has been the Lionesses' first choice since last summer but both Daly and England have shown incredible form this past season. Daly netted 22 goals in 22 Women's Super League games to equal Vivianne Miedema's record and win the Golden Boot. England, meanwhile, scored 12 in 12 after a January switch to Tottenham, giving her a surprising but well-deserved call-up for the World Cup.
There are plenty of options out wide, too. Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp are likely to be the wingers in Wiegman's starting XI, but Lauren James and Katie Robinson will both work hard to give the coach a real selection headache.
| Name |
Club |
| Rachel Daly |
Aston Villa |
| Beth England |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| Lauren Hemp |
Manchester City |
| Lauren James |
Chelsea |
| Chloe Kelly |
Manchester City |
| Katie Robinson |
Brighton |
| Alessia Russo |
Manchester United |