The Lionesses have been handed a favourable World Cup play-off draw after failing to qualify automatically for the tournament.
England will play Greece, who are ranked 59th in the world, over two legs between October 7-13. Win that, and they will face either Slovakia or Ukraine between November 26 and December 5.
Sarina Wiegman's side beat Ukraine 3-0 and 6-1 in their two Nations League games.
England have enjoyed success in their recent meetings with Ukraine - Getty Images
Unlike with men's tournaments, the Nations League serves as qualifying in the women's game. England were in League A, with the other top countries in Europe.
There were four automatic qualification spots for the World Cup for European teams, which were taken by the group winners in League A: Denmark , France , Germany and Spain .
After losing out on top spot in their qualifying group to Spain, England have been forced to take the longer route to Brazil 2027 with two sets of two-legged play-offs.
England were seeded in the draw but could still have faced a trickier second fixture against teams such as Belgium or Portugal – both of whom they failed to beat away from home last year.
The Lionesses have never played Greece before, while their opponents have also never qualified for a World Cup. England will be the overwhelming favourites to win that tie over two legs.
Ukraine will be expected to beat Slovakia, meaning England will probably play a team they have already beaten convincingly twice in recent months.
Finding a successor for Lucy Bronze has been a problem for some time. Wiegman has tried Niamh Charles and Maya Le Tissier at right-back, but neither has featured enough to stake a claim for a regular place.
Bronze will be 35 when the World Cup starts and it would be a big ask to expect her to start every game of the tournament. Bronze showed at the 2025 European Championship that she could play through injury and help England in decisive moments. The problem is, when she is not fit or not at her best, the Lionesses struggle.
Lucy Bronze battled through injury to help England to European Championship glory last year - Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images
She was poor in the 4-0 defeat by Spain , but did not look fully fit. If Bronze were to get injured or go through a spell of poor form, there is not a replacement who is ready to step into her boots. They need to find a way to play without her in case she is not able to start every game next summer.
Le Tissier started at right-back against Ukraine , but did not look hugely comfortable. If Le Tissier is the back-up for Bronze, she needs to be given more chances to get used to the position, given she plays at centre-back for Manchester United .
Ella Morris, who recently returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, is a possible successor, but next summer may come too soon.
On her day, Lauren James is one of the best players in the world. She has always posed a threat, but has developed the defensive side of her game in the past two years.
Still, England have not quite worked out how to consistently get the best out of her. Part of that is because of James's injury record and the amount of games she has missed.
Unlocking Lauren James' (left) potential must be a priority for Wiegman - Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Wiegman has tried James as a No 10 and out wide, and the latter role seems to suit her better. James would perhaps work in a central role if the Lionesses played a back five, but they usually operate with a back four.
England need to find a way of getting James on the ball more during games. They should try to get the ball out wide regularly, while Lauren Hemp occupies the other wing. James and Hemp are arguably England's two most dangerous attacking players and both have the speed, vision and skill to link up with Alessia Russo .
England have struggled to find a settled centre-back pairing since Millie Bright – the regular partner for Leah Williamson – retired.
Jess Carter played the majority of games at the European Championship, but seems to have fallen behind Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy in the pecking order. Morgan and Wubben-Moy were excellent in the home game against Spain, but struggled in the away fixture.
It seems as though Wiegman has settled on Alex Greenwood being her left-back, which takes her out of the equation at centre-back. There is also a lack of options beyond Greenwood; Charles and Taylor Hinds can play there, but the latter lacks international experience.
Williamson's injury-hampered season must be a concern for Wiegman. She needs her captain fit and available for the play-offs and the run-up to the World Cup.
England have always had players who can come off the bench and affect games. At the 2025 European Championship, Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were the two players they relied on.
Chloe Kelly (left) and Michelle Agyemang delivered in Switzerland - Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Agyemang suffered an ACL injury last October and will have to work her way back to fitness. After a stop-start campaign with Arsenal , Kelly will hope for a more consistent 2026-27 season.
Wiegman needs to find other "super-sub" options. Aggie Beever-Jones has an impressive goal record for England but did not even make the bench against Spain. Freya Godfrey has made the last few squads, but is yet to make her debut.
Wiegman needs to give the likes of Beever-Jones and Godfrey more opportunities.
Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway are guaranteed starters in central midfield, but the No 10 position still feels up for grabs. Ella Toone has the most experience while Lucia Kendall and Laura Blindkilde Brown have also been handed a few opportunities there.
It is important Kendall and Blindkilde Brown are given game time so they gain more international experience before next summer.
The other issue in midfield is that the Lionesses have not figured out how to deal with Walsh being marked out of games. Walsh pulls the strings in England's midfield, but teams have long targeted her. When she cannot get on the ball and dictate play, the Lionesses struggle.
Wiegman needs to figure out a plan B for how to play when Walsh is not getting on the ball and also how to play without her, should she get injured.
