England's Nations League group for LA28 Olympic qualification on behalf of Team GB and Northern Ireland is on the line.
With next year's World Cup qualification not secured, it would be unthinkable to look ahead to the LA28 Olympics; however, the European Nations League group that determines Olympic status has been drawn.
The reason is that, because Team GB is not a football team on an international stage outside the Olympics, England was nominated to take on the responsibility of qualification, which means finishing top of their Nations League group.
This time, they have drawn France, Austria, and Portugal in Group A2. The league phase will take place across three international windows in February/March, April and June 2027, with each team playing the others home and away. The four League A group winners will progress to the semi-finals later in the year, followed by a third-place play-off and final to decide the competition’s champions.
Historically, it was based on the results of the World Cup, but this was changed for Paris 2024. This meant Team GB missed out by a one-goal difference to the Dutch. The Dutch beat Belgium 4-0, while the Lionesses won 6-0, but the Netherlands' two late goals secured them first place in the group.
Wiegman, who previously led the Netherlands at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has described leading Team GB as a special opportunity. Ahead of the 2023 Nations League, it was announced that if England qualified on behalf of Team GB, Wiegman would be the manager, and as she recently signed a contract to stay on until the end of the Euros in 2029, this will likely be the case again. She believes the Games offer a different experience from the World Cup, bringing together players from across the home nations.
England's hardest match will be against France, who have established themselves as a European power but seem to be at the last hurdle when it comes to silverware.
Their squad includes players such as Sakina Karchaoui, Grace Geyoro and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, alongside Chelsea’s Melvine Malard. France topped their 2026 World Cup qualifying group, recording four wins, one draw and one defeat to secure qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
After their most recent meeting raised concerns about England retaining the Euros trophy, they lost 2-1 to France in their opening group-stage fixture in Switzerland. Wiegman described France as a world-class team, highlighting their quality, power and technique.
Austria reached the 2022 Euros, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford, and most recently in 2024, when they won 7-2. But they are an experienced side, having previously reached the semi-finals of the Euros in 2017 and the quarter-finals in 2022, but did not qualify for the last edition of the competition. Their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign was difficult, as they finished fourth in their group behind Germany, Norway and Slovenia. However, they responded positively in October 2026, beating Kosovo twice in their play-off semi-final.
Wiegman nevertheless expects a difficult contest, describing Austria as a team that has previously tested England and is finding its way back towards the top level. They are likely to be compact, disciplined and challenging to break down.
Finally, Portugal, a side they beat just before the Euros in 2025 7-0, with Aggie Beever-Jones scoring a first-half hat-trick, becoming only the second Lionesses to score a hat-trick at Wembley behind Beth Mead, but they also drew 1-1 in February 2025 and 0-0 in July 2023. The 2023 World Cup was Portugal's first-ever appearance in the competition.
Wiegman highlighted Portugal’s ability to switch between possession-based and more direct football, as well as their physical strength in duels. Their development means England cannot judge them solely on the heavy Wembley defeat.
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