A depleted England hosts Brazil in Manchester on Saturday. This is the first time they have met since the Lionesses' penalty shootout win in the 2023 Finalissima.
These two sides will face each other again soon in the rerun of the final, as they both won their continental titles this summer on penalties. England beating Spain at the Euros and Brazil defeating Colombia in the Copa América.
With several key players out, including Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Leah Williamson, Katie Reid, Grace Clinton and Jess Park, Hannah Hampton is unavailable for this game, and Lotte Wubben-Moy has left camp due to illness.
Sarina Wiegman plans to experiment with her squad amid a lengthy injury list, viewing this friendly window as a final opportunity to test new players and combinations before World Cup qualifiers.
It was announced on Friday's press conference that Hampton has a minor elbow injury and is not available for the first game of the international break, but could return against Australia. This will force Sarina Wiegman, England's manager, to give a senior debut to either Khiara Keating or Anna Moorhouse. Sophie Baggaley has been called up as well.
When asked if she had selected who was going to be the number, Wiegman said: "We have one training session to go, yes, I know. I have made the decision, but as always, we have to get through this session, and then of course, I will inform the team first."
She was adamant about publicly stating who she had chosen.
Lucy Bronze, who has only just recovered from her broken tibia injury that she played the whole Euros with, has made an appearance off the bench in Chelsea's last two games before the break.
The manager said: "Lucy Bronze is available and she's building. I think, as always, Lucy Bronze is ready to start. Whether she's to start, we will see tomorrow."
On the matter of the captaincy, without Leah Williamson due to injury, and Millie Bright having retired. Keira Walsh, who took over the vice-captaincy in the summer from Bright, will captain these two games.
The manager declared, "Alex is also one of the captains. She's in the captain's group. But when Leah's not available, Kiera's the captain."
Wiegman spoke about these two games in October, and the other, during the November international break, is an opportunity to try things out, especially new formats and players. Given the injury crisis, this is the perfect time to give players their first cap.
She continued to say:" Of course, we always play to win, but now we also play to develop. Sometimes I really want to see a player, no matter how the game goes. We want to learn""
Brazil, ranked 7th in the world — three places below England — continues to impress under Arthur Elias after their 9th Copa América.
The English manager on her opponents: They're [Brazil] very physical and athletic. They have a lot of pace up front. They can play football, but they also really want to play fast forward, so that will be a challenge."
In her squad, she had announced she was asked where she saw Manchester United captain Maya Le Tissier on the pitch; she said right-back. In response, United said that in 103/104 matches for the Red Devils, it has been at centre-back.
Her response to this fanfare was, "I don't react to social media. I watch Maya [Le Tissier] all the time —she's great for both club and country. With our squad structure, she's most likely to play right back."
Arthur Elias Brazil's manager spoke to England about the rivalry: "There's always a rivalry when we talk about the great schools of football. Brazil and England are great soccer teams that have been emerging in recent tournaments. England has a strong team, great players and an excellent coach. It will be a clash of today's elite women's ball teams."
In their previous meeting back in April 2023, under the Wembley arch, Ella Toone scored for the home side, and Andressa Alves scored for Brazil. The game went to penalties, and England won 4-2. As usual, Chloe Kelly converted the decisive penalty. A Chloe Kelly goal has won all of England's women's titles.
Other meetings include 2019, when England won 2-1, and then in 2018, when England lost 1-0 to Brazil.
England are unbeaten in their last five home games, with a clean sheet. Brazil have lost just two of their last 15 matches, including a narrow defeat to France in June, the same country they beat England at the Euros.
Match Stats
- This is England's first match at the Etihad Stadium since 2005, when they beat Finland in the UEFA EURO 2005.
- Wiegman has never beaten Brazil in three previous meetings as an international manager (all draws).
- Chloe Kelly has a goal contribution (1 goal, two assists) in each of her last three England appearances.
- Brazil forward Amanda Gutierres was the joint-top scorer at the 2025 Copa AméricAméricaina (6 goals).
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