Lionesses call up three new faces in first squad since Euro 2025 triumph

England head coach Sarina Wiegman has selected Taylor Hinds, Katie Reid and Lucia Kendall in her first Lionesses squad since their Euro 2025 victory this summer ahead of friendlies against Brazil and Australia this month.

Left-back Hinds, 26, moved from Liverpool to Arsenal before the start of the season, while Gunners team-mate Reid, a 19-year-old centre-back, and 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder Lucia Kendall have been promoted from the Under-23s.

There are also recalls for midfielders Laura Blindkilde Brown and Missy Bo Kearns, who featured before the Euros but did not make the final squad. But captain Leah Williamson and forwards Lauren James and Lauren Hemp miss out on the 25-player squad due to injury.

Williamson, James and Hemp are the only players who won the Euros this summer who drop out, while former Euros champion Millie Bright announced her international retirement on Monday after an 88-cap career and leading the Lionesses to the World Cup final as captain in 2023.

The Lionesses will face Brazil, the champions of South America, at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Saturday 25 October, three days before taking on Australia at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday 28 October. It will be their first meeting with Australia since the 2023 World Cup semi-finals.

“In Brazil and Australia we’ll be facing two top opponents who will each test us in different ways, which is exactly the kind of challenge we need as we prepare for World Cup qualification starting early next year,” Wiegman said.

“It’s lovely to celebrate success but this is also the start of a new cycle with new opportunities and objectives. I cannot wait to get everyone together and started next week.”

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