England Women kick off their 2025 Homecoming Series with a friendly against Brazil.
This match marks England’s first outing since they completed their successful UEFA Women’s Euro title defence in July, whilst also acting as warmup for the 2026 Women’s Finalissima against Brazil.
Team News
Hannah Hampton is ruled out for England after she suffered an elbow injury in training, meaning that one of Sophie Baggaley, Khiara Keating or Anna Moorhouse will make their debuts in goal.
Grace Fisk, Taylor Hinds and Lucia Kendall are looking for their first senior international caps, although Fisk was only called up as a replacement after Katie Reid withdrew due to injury.
Jess Park and Grace Clinton have also pulled out of the squad due to injury, with Park’s absence due to concussion having forced manager – Sarina Wiegman to call up Jess Naz as Park’s replacement.
Lotte Wubben-Moy meanwhile was forced to withdraw from the squad due to illness.
Brazil have no fresh injury concerns to report ahead of this match.
When is Kick-Off?
England host Brazil at Etihad Stadium, Manchester, on Saturday 25 October at 5:30pm BST, live on ITV1, STV and ITVX in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Excluding penalty shootouts, England have lost just one of four previous meetings against Brazil in all competitions (W2, D1, L1).
- Brazil have won one of three previous visits to England in all competitions (W1, D1, L1), of which two of those three trips were friendlies which saw both teams take a win apiece.
- England kept just one clean sheet in three previous home clashes against Brazil, which came in October 2018 in a 1-0 victory in their very first meeting in Nottingham.
- England’s last seven goals were scored in the second half across their last four matches excluding penalty shootouts (W2, D2).
- Brazil are unbeaten in four of seven previous away friendlies to European opposition this decade (W3, D1, L3).
Prediction
With some regulars having dealt with injuries and fitness issues post Euros, this is a chance for Wiegman to experiment and rotate her squad especially with a definite debutant in goal, but I expect her to still go strong as this is a team still in transition.
Brazil meanwhile are in their own transitory period with plenty of young talent named in this squad but they do have a light midfield selection with a larger focus on attack, so this could well be experimental for them too.
Much of the result could depend on the starting line-ups but Brazil have kept a single clean sheet in seven away friendlies to European opposition, so I am expecting a close game and wouldn’t be surprised if this ends in a draw.
Prediction: England 1-1 Brazil
Result: England 1-2 Brazil
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