Women's World Cup Qualifier LIVE: Ukraine vs England - radio commentary, text updates, stats & head-to-head
Live Reporting
Emily Salley
Show
1.
Will Pattinson and Godfrey make debuts?published at 16:47 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
This is Poppy Pattinson's first senior call-up to the Lionesses. The London City Lionesses defender has featured for England's youth teams, while she has made seven WSL appearances this term.
"[Pattinson] plays at left-back, is very proactive and takes a lot of initiative. She likes to go forward and she can cover the whole wing on the left side," said Wiegman.
"She is looking for passes forward which I thought was really good. Although she is not the tallest, she does use her body well in defence.
"You have seen different options. [Pattinson] is now one of them and Taylor [Hinds] has played there. In both the left full-back and right-back position, we are figuring out what's best for the team."
Her London City team-mate Freya Godfrey could also make her debut tonight, although she was named in the last squad.
2.
What do the stats say?published at 16:44 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
- England have won all four of their previous meetings with Ukraine in all competitions, with this being their first since a 2-1 away win in June 2014 in qualification for the 2015 World Cup.
- England manager Sarina Wiegman is unbeaten in her last 20 matches when facing a nation for the first time (W16 D4), since a 2-0 loss against the USA as Netherlands manager in the 2019 World Cup final.
- Georgia Stanway could be the first player to net in four consecutive England appearances since Ellen White in July 2019 (five in a row).
3.
Get Involvedpublished at 16:41 GMT
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4.
How does World Cup qualifying work?published at 16:39 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
European qualifiers for the World Cup will run from February to December, starting with a league phase.
The league phase is played in the same format as the Nations League, with teams split into three leagues - League A, B and C.
England are in League A Group 3, alongside world champions Spain, Ukraine and Iceland.
The winners of each League A group qualify automatically for Brazil 2027. England have never won a group that has Spain in it.
The teams that finish in second and third will go into a play-off round against teams from League B and C.
5.
Reward for impressive Blindkilde Brownpublished at 16:37 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter
It's a big opportunity for Laura Blindkilde Brown, who has been impressive for Manchester City this season and has been rewarded with a start in midfield.
Sarina Wiegman has been in the stands to watch her at recent games - along with several other Lionesses - and she's got her chance tonight.
It looks like Jess Park will be playing out wide, as she has done for Manchester United this season, rather than in the number 10 role.
And Maya Le Tissier is the replacement for Lucy Bronze, who is not fully fit enough to play back-to-back 90-minute matches.
There's a blow for Alex Greenwood, who has picked up a minor muscle injury and will need to be assessed before Saturday's game against Iceland.
6.
Get Involvedpublished at 16:34 GMT
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Let us know your thoughts ahead of tonight's game!
Score predictions? Thoughts on the squad? England's World Cup chances?
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7.
'The last trophy on the list is a World Cup'published at 16:32 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
Leah Williamson joined Kelly Sommers in the latest episode of The Football Interview (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0n44l1k) and conversation turned to the World Cup, given it's the only trophy Williamson is yet to get her hands on.
Kelly: "You've achieved so much. What else do you want to achieve? If you could only achieve one more thing, what would it be?"
Leah: "The last thing on the list is obviously a World Cup. In the career that I've had, it's the last trophy."
Kelly: "It's no secret that all the other Lionesses that we've spoken to said exactly the same thing."
Leah: "The World Cup?"
Kelly: "Yeah. Lucy [Bronze]... I don't think I'd finished my sentence..."
Leah: ".she said World Cup?"
Kelly: "And then she said it. Which probably wouldn't surprise you, knowing Lucy either."
Leah: "No, no. I speak to my team-mates and I'm like, 'Mariona [Caldentey], you have one... do you want to do a swap... or how does this work?'"
Kelly: "Maybe they'll let you have the next one."
Leah: "Yeah. Everybody wants it and the stage of women's football now, it's just so unpredictable. There's so many good teams - it becomes so much harder, which I think only makes you want it more."
8.
Williamson returnspublished at 16:30 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
England have got their captain back!
Leah Williamson missed England's friendly victories over China, Ghana and Australia as well as their defeat by Brazil at the end of 2025 due to a knee injury.
The Arsenal defender had surgery after lifting England's second successive European title in July and returned to action at the start of December.
So this will be the first time she has played in an England shirt since they beat Spain in the final in Switzerland.
9.
England 'given reassurances' over safety in Turkeypublished at 16:27 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
Speaking yesterday, Sarina Wiegman said England have been given reassurances there are no safety concerns about their game being held in Turkey as the conflict in the Middle East widens.
On Saturday the US attacked Iran (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dyz6p3weo) as part of a joint operation with Israel, sparking retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.
The Iranian regime has responded with attacks on US assets and countries in the region with a US military presence, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.
Turkey borders Iran and Iraq and is close to Cyprus, where an Iranian drone crashed into a British RAF base (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2r0q310e3o) on Sunday. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have also exchanged strikes.
"Yes, we did have reassurances. We are in close contact with the government and the people here that are responsible," said Wiegman.
"Of course, you're concerned about what's happening in the world. When we think, or our government thinks it's unsafe, we will go back. At this moment, we don't have signals of that."
10.
Why are England playing in Turkey?published at 16:25 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
Today's game is is taking place in Antalya because Ukraine are unable to play in their home country as a result of the war with Russia (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c1vw6q14rzqt) , which is in its fifth year.
The Lionesses have been in the country since last Wednesday for a training camp.
"We have great facilities here and the climate is really good so we can prepare really well. But the reason we're here is not nice," she added.
"You want Ukraine to be able to play in their home country. They had to travel a lot themselves to get here. The things they have in front of them in their country is really horrible."
11.
Postpublished at 16:22 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
This will be England's first competitive game since they lifted the Euro 2025 trophy in July.
The Lionesses then enjoyed a 'homecoming series' in autumn, playing four friendlies on home soil, but it's back to business today.
After losing the first of those friendlies - against Brazil - Sarina Wiegman's side won the next three without conceding a goal.
Same again this evening?
12.
Team news - Williamson returns, Blindkilde Brown startspublished at 16:20 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter
Sarina Wiegman makes seven changes to the England team who beat Ghana in a friendly match in December.
Several big names return including captain Leah Williamson and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton but Lucy Bronze is on the bench.
There's a rare start for in-form Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown, while Maya Le Tissier is at right-back.
Arsenal's Taylor Hinds gets the nod at left-back but there is no Alex Greenwood - due to a minor muscle injury - or Grace Clinton in the squad.
Ukraine XI: Samson, Shaynyuk, Kotyk, Petryk, Korsun, Basanka, Andrukhiv, Kalinina, Ovdiychuk, Kozlova, Kravchuk.
Subs: Boklach, Keliushyk, Podolska, Kotiash, Hiryn, Ivkova, Zaborovets, Shmatko, Kohut, Hlushchenko, Olkhova.
England XI: Hampton, Le Tissier, Williamson, Wubben-Moy, Hinds, Stanway, Walsh, Blindkilde Brown, Park, Russo, Hemp.
Subs: Bronze, Moorhouse, Pattinson, Morgan, Fisk, Kelly, Kendall, Beever-Jones, James, Roebuck, Carter, Godfrey.
13.
Good evening!published at 16:18 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
Hello and thanks for joining us as England start their journey towards Brazil 2027.
They've got their first World Cup qualifying game this evening, taking on Ukraine in Turkey before they host Iceland on Saturday.
Let's get the team news...
14.
Postpublished at 16:15 GMT
Ukraine v England (17:00 GMT)
After falling at the final hurdle in 2023, the Lionesses' bid for World Cup glory starts again this evening.
Can they kick it off with a win against Ukraine?
Let's find out!
Image source, Getty Images
