England defeated Spain at Wembley to continue their perfect start to Women’s World Cup qualifying as the Lionesses successfully held onto the lead given to them by Lauren Hemp’s goal inside three minutes.
In a rematch of last summer’s Euro 2025 final, Sarina Wiegman’s side denied Spain the chance for revenge but had to survive long spells of possession against the world champions - who hit the bar and post in the second half.
Hemp struck when she finished acrobatically from Alessia Russo’s clever flick in the box and the Lionesses could have doubled their lead when Hemp then hit the post in the first half. Russo, Lauren James and Lucia Kendall also had chances in the second.
Hannah Hampton, who denied Spain in the Euro 2025 penalty shoot-out, was forced into a big save in stoppage time to keep out Edna Imade’s header. The goalkeeper kept an important clean sheet on a night where Mary Earps had her retirement celebration.
But a win ensures Wiegman’s side have made it three wins from three in qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil and they will travel to Iceland on Saturday for their next qualifier in charge of their group.
Follow live updates from England v Spain from Wembley, below
England v Spain live: Latest score and updates
- FULL TIME! England beat Spain at Wembley to stay perfect in World Cup qualifying
- '90 SAVE! Hampton makes crucial stop to deny late Spain header [ENG 1-0 ESP]
- '55 POST! Vicky Lopez strikes post after Olga Carmona hits the bar [ENG 1-0 ESP]
- '19 POST! Hemp strikes upright after lovely one-two with Bronze [ENG 1-0 ESP]
- '3 GOAL! Hemp scrambles the ball over line as Lionesses make stunning start [ENG 1-0 ESP]
England found a different way to beat Spain - but one quality still shone through
21:58 , Jamie Braidwood, at WembleyEngland 1-0 Spain: Rather than chasing the game, as they did throughout the Euros, the Lionesses were made to defend their lead after Lauren Hemp’s goal inside three minutes
England found a different way to beat Spain - but one quality still shone through
The road to the World Cup
04:00 , Flo CliffordThere is only one direct qualification spot from a four-team group that also includes Ukraine and Iceland, which means one of England or Spain will have to qualify through the play-offs.
But this qualifying format makes a lot more sense than the previous iteration, when the Lionesses thrashed Latvia 20-0 and scored 80 goals in just eight matches on their road to the 2023 World Cup.
Uefa decided to bring in the Nations League system, a move that has suited teams at all levels, even if it has led to some complications for Sarina Wiegman’s side while they have thrived under pressure and became two-time European champions.
England 1-0 Spain
03:00 , Flo CliffordHemp continues: “They had a few chance but we also had a few up the other end on the counter, but it was important that our defensive display was really good from front to back today, and obviously Hannah also made some important saves for us which was massive.”
On her interplay with Bronze, she says: “It is a little different from what I'm used to, I've been playing on the right, but me and Lucy have been playing together for England for a few years. It is always nice to play with her, we work together really well. I managed to get a goal, could have got a second, so it is nice to contribute where I can.”
England 1-0 Spain
02:00 , Flo CliffordLauren Hemp tells BBC Radio 5 Live: “It's really nice. I didn't expect to score inside the first two minutes and for that to be the decider.
“It has put us in good stead for automatic qualification but we need to go back to Spain and do the job there, and we also have another important game on Saturday. It was a really resilient performance and we dominated both boxes, so an important win.
“From a corner you always need to make sure that you stay alive to the second phase, and I knew the ball was going to land in that area and somehow Alessia managed to put it on a plate for me.
“Then you just try to hit it as hard as you can and hope it goes through some bodies. Pleased it went in and that just relaxed us a bit. We had to do a lot of defending and it wasn't pretty at times but sometimes you've got to do that to win.”
England retain brilliant unbeaten Wembley run
01:00 , Flo CliffordTonight’s result means the Lionesses are unbeaten in all 10 of their previous games against Spain played in England, including the Euro 2022 quarter-final in Brighton and their most recent meeting prior to tonight, which was also 1-0 win for Sarina Wiegman’s side in the Nations League in February 2025. Jess Park - who remained on the bench tonight - scored the only goal then.
England 1-0 Spain
00:00 , Flo CliffordWubben-Moy pays tribute to Walsh too, adding: “On Saturday we'll celebrate the 500th game, she's played a fifth of those games and that's incredible. When you talk about someone to look up to and who epitomises the hard work you put in to get up to this level, that's her. I know she'll be a role model to many.”
England 1-0 Spain
23:40 , Flo CliffordLotte Wubben-Moy continues: “European champions v world champions, it's a great spectacle for the fans and I hope they enjoyed it. Women's football is a joy, we're all here enjoying the moment. Long may it continue.”
On the new qualifying format, she says: “It's a relatively new format for us. The home and away leg brings its challenges and the joys. Anything can happen in the second leg. Saturday's the first game that comes to mind.”
England's remaining qualifying fixtures
23:20 , Flo Clifford- Iceland v England (18 April at 5.30pm BST)
- Spain v England (5 June, kick-off TBC)
- England v Ukraine (9 June at 8pm BST)
England 1-0 Spain
23:05 , Flo CliffordEngland are next in action this Saturday as they travel to Iceland for their 500th game. That kicks off at 5.30pm BST.
England 1-0 Spain
22:52 , Flo CliffordLotte Wubben-Moy says: “I will always be ready. I live to be ready and a game like this, I enjoyed every second. A lot of defending but that's my thing.
“We've got to think towards the game on Saturday. We'll take the good vibes and energy into that. That was today, onto Saturday.
“We only had a quick talk in the huddle. The phrase 'win by any means' can take on many forms. Saturday will be a different game where hopefully we can have more possession. Another 90 minutes can look very differently.”
England 1-0 Spain
22:35 , Flo CliffordAnd here’s Lauren Hemp’s missed opportunity for a double, cruelly denied by the post.
What a goal this would've been 🤯
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 14, 2026
Watch the #Lionesses live on ITV1. pic.twitter.com/Q9L5UeHHHG
England 1-0 Spain
22:20 , Flo CliffordHemp pays tribute to 100-cap Keira Walsh, saying: “Keira is a fantastic player, I've known her since I was young and she was teaching me the ways. It's great to have someone like Keira in the team. I'm really proud of her reaching 100.
“She carries the team at points when we need her to. She's the engine.”
England 1-0 Spain
22:03 , Flo CliffordGoalscorer Lauren Hemp says: “I was pretty sure [the goal went in] to be honest. I did see it cross the line and I was just looking at the ref like 'hurry up and say that went in'. It was nice to score at Wembley. Should've kicked it a bit harder so it actually went in the net. At times it weren't pretty, but we got the job done.
“At times we had to defend a lot. I thought we dominated in both boxes. Fantastic performance from Hannah, it helped us win.
“We would have loved to have dominated more of the ball but sometimes games happen like this. It was a very gutsy performance. Everyone worked hard right until the last minute. I'm really proud of the team tonight.”
England 1-0 Spain
21:50 , Flo CliffordIt’s been a big night at Wembley with 50 former Lionesses turning up for a guard of honour as the players walked out, with the 500th game on the horizon against Iceland.
Wiegman says: “"Overall, the bigger picture of this evening is incredible. The legends are here and we always say we stand on their shoulders. Then Keira’s 100th cap, that’s massive for her and for Lucia [Kendall], her first start at Wembley, and I thought she did a good job.
“I’m very grateful that I’m part of this, it’s so good that we celebrate the generations that were before us. It’s great the game is moving up, we still have many steps to take but from where we were it’s incredible.”
England 1-0 Spain
21:43 , Flo CliffordWiegman comments on the new defensive partnership between Morgan and Wubben-Moy. She says: "I think they did really well. This is the highest level we get and tactically Spain are very good. You need to communicate at all times and have skill at all times. I’m really happy with how they did it.”
The campaign isn’t over, however. “It’s a great step forward. This is hard now, tonight we recover and tomorrow we get ready for Iceland because it’s a quick turnaround.
“It was an intense game. Be happy now but then switch straightaway to Iceland.”
England 1-0 Spain
21:35 , Flo CliffordLet’s hear now from England manager Sarina Wiegman. She tells ITV: “I’m really happy. We got a good result. We had to defend alot, we know Spain are so good on the ball. You have to defend well and be really compact.
“We had our chances, they got some too. But sometimes you have to fight to get the win and that's what we did.
“We hoped we’d be in a higher block more but we got pushed back. Sometimes we could have been better on the ball and create moremomentum. As soon as we got in their half of the pitch, we made them uncomfortable.”
England 1-0 Spain
21:28 , Flo CliffordWalsh reached 100 caps tonight and says: “Obviously it's not something I ever thought would be possible. To do it 100 times, I never take it for granted.”
England 1-0 Spain
21:21 , Flo CliffordHere’s that superb save from Hampton.
HANNAH HAMPT🚫N. pic.twitter.com/NXAzgj0tbq
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 14, 2026
England 1-0 Spain
21:15 , Flo CliffordEngland captain Keira Walsh tells ITV: “I think everybody knows you can't go toe-to-toe with Spain for possession. Our plan was to sit in a low block and when we had a chance, go forward.
“They had chances at the end but they're an unbelievable team.”
She sings the praises of Hampton, whose late save to deny Imade was crucial. “She's an unbelievable goalkeeper. I'm not surprised but to do it in front of this crowd shows her talent.”
England 1-0 Spain
21:10 , Flo CliffordEngland do a lap of honour and soak in the applause from an appreciative crowd at Wembley. It was tight and often scrappy, and Spain wasted a plethora of chances, but they got the job done.
Stanway and Imade - Bayern Munich teammates - swap shirts.
How the table stands
21:05 , Flo CliffordSo England lead Group A3 on nine points. Spain are second on six, Iceland third on three, and Ukraine bottom with nul points.
England are three from three in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
England 1-0 Spain
21:00 , Flo CliffordA huge three points towards @FIFAWWC qualification! 👏 pic.twitter.com/l7d9LTg0Uh
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) April 14, 2026
FULL-TIME: England 1-0 Spain
20:54 , Flo Clifford‘90+5: Mapi Leon sends a great ball in, England clear... and that’s it! The Lionesses win this latest duel!
England 1-0 Spain
20:53 , Flo Clifford‘90+4: Spain have a corner. We’re into added time in added time.
England 1-0 Spain
20:53 , Flo Clifford‘90+3: Corrales swings it in, another brilliant cross towards the back post, but Lopez misses!
Hampton gets a yellow for time-wasting, not that she’ll be too miffed at that.
England 1-0 Spain
20:50 , Flo Clifford‘90+1: Another corner results in chaos in the box but Bronze gets low to thump it clear.
Four minutes left for England to ride out this wave. Greenwood calls for calm. England haven’t had a shot in over half an hour.
SAVE! England 1-0 Spain
20:49 , Flo Clifford‘90: Another Spain set-piece: Imade sends a thunderous header goalward at point-blank range but Hampton flies to her right to palm it away! An amazing save!
CLOSE! England 1-0 Spain
20:46 , Flo Clifford‘87: Paralluelo is an absolute livewire. She beats Wubben-Moy this time down the left flank and crosses in; Imade heads it up and goalward but it’s too high.
Hampton gets a warning from referee Tess Olofsson for taking her sweet time with a goal kick.
England 1-0 Spain
20:44 , Flo Clifford‘85: Bronze gets a yellow for a cynical shirt-pull on Paralluelo, who has the beating of her again. Bronze grins: no argument there.
England 1-0 Spain
20:42 , Flo Clifford‘84: England are a bit messy at the back and have multiple chances to clear a dangerous cross before Stanway eventually pokes it past Lopez, inches away from her face with a very high outstretched boot. Risky, but she gets the ball!
No VAR, remember.
England 1-0 Spain
20:41 , Flo Clifford‘82: Paralluelo has the beating of Bronze with a sharp run down the left channel; she sidefoots it across goal and Hampton dives to smother it!
England 1-0 Spain
20:40 , Flo Clifford‘81: Guijarro has to come off, not looking in a good way. Russo gives her a handshake as she comes off. 18-year-old Serrajordi is on for her third cap.
The crowd roars and you know what that means - it’s Chloe Kelly time! She replaces James.
England 1-0 Spain
20:39 , Flo Clifford‘80: Guijarro barges Russo over but goes down clutching her face and her ankle - looks like she caught it underneath Russo. The physios are on.
England 1-0 Spain
20:38 , Flo Clifford‘79: Stanway now breaks for England and Coll gets in a panic, sprinting miles out of her goal to send it out despite having two of her defenders closing Stanway down. Nervy times.
England 1-0 Spain
20:37 , Flo Clifford‘78: Lopez goes for a low delivery and it’s not great, Walsh is at the near post to boot clear.
Not very far however and Mapi Leon sweeps in a high ball - Imade rises to try to win it and there’s pressure on Hampton, but she gets there!
England 1-0 Spain
20:36 , Flo Clifford‘77: Bronze has her hands by her side but is penalised for hand-ball as she stands in the way of Corrales. Corrales didn’t even claim for it and Bronze obviously feels hard done by. Spain have a free kick on the left hand side of the box. Hampton marshalls the wall.
England 1-0 Spain
20:34 , Flo Clifford‘75: More Spain changes: London City Lionesses full-back Corrales and Imade are on, Pina and Carmona come off.
England 1-0 Spain
20:32 , Flo Clifford‘73: James has been on top of her duels with Guijarro and now is brought to ground by the Spaniard.
Time for an England change: Kendall, who missed a brilliant chance shortly after the restart, is hooked for Blindkilde Brown.
England 1-0 Spain
20:30 , Flo Clifford‘71: Lopez gets the better of Greenwood but Hampton palms away her effort and Bronze punts it clear.
Now Paredes wins the ball from a corner - and knocks it over the bar. Plenty of opportunities but no one has their shooting boots on.
England 1-0 Spain
20:28 , Jamie Braidwood‘69: Wiegman has yet to make a change while Spain’s coaches are in frantic talks on the sidelines planning their next move. It feels like England have ridden out their first spell of pressure but Spain are surely going to come again.
England 1-0 Spain
20:24 , Flo Clifford‘65: Lopez clips it in but Bronze is wise to it and heads away from the penalty area.
Pina sends a great cross to the back post having sent Bronze the wrong way but Lopez is just an inch or two behind the flight of the ball! This game really should be about 4-2 by now.
England 1-0 Spain
20:21 , Flo Clifford‘62: Russo is under pressure near the backline and cuts it back, but has no teammate in the box!
Spain make a change: Gonzalez is off, Paralluelo on.
England 1-0 Spain
20:18 , Flo Clifford‘59: Paredes goes into the book for hauling down Russo.
England 1-0 Spain
20:17 , Jamie Braidwood58’: England may be living dangerously but it’s been a great couple of minutes for Russo as she leads the line, even if she missed that great chances. Twice in two minutes she’s been able to hold the ball and either bring team-mates into play or win a foul to get the Lionesses up the pitch.
WIDE! England 1-0 Spain
20:17 , Flo Clifford‘58: Guijarro fancies taking on James on the edge of the box but is outwitted easily; James tries to bend the ball around and into the goal but doesn’t quite get the angle on it.
CLOSE! England 1-0 Spain
20:15 , Flo Clifford‘56: Spain are threatening. Batlle cuts it back for Lopez, who unleashes a fierce shot across the face of goal - and it cannons off the inside of the post! She can’t believe it.
WIDE! England 1-0 Spain
20:14 , Flo Clifford‘55: Goal-line technology confirms, if it was needed, that Carmona’s attempt did not stray over the line.
Russo is through on goal again but Mapi Leonmakes a brilliant sliding challenge just as she strikes, and Russo’s attempt drifts wide! She wants a corner but nothing doing.
Wiegman nearly erupts in the stands.
OVER THE BAR! England 1-0 Spain
20:12 , Flo Clifford‘53: It’s another quick break by England. Russo pulls it back invitingly for Kendall and Mapi Leon just does enough to put the 21-year-old off as she sends it over the bar!
Wiegman can’t believe it.
England 1-0 Spain
20:11 , Flo Clifford‘52: The corner is half-cleared and Caldentey recycles it towards the back post... Hampton gathers.
England 1-0 Spain
20:10 , Jamie Braidwood‘50: England are ahead thanks to a few inches and Spain are similarly denied an equaliser by the finest of margins. England surely cannot by that deep in this second half.
CLOSE! England 1-0 Spain
20:09 , Flo Clifford‘50: Carmona gets so close! She lashes a fierce attempt over Hampton but it rattles the crossbar and drops down - but doesn’t cross the line!
Spain have a corner....
England 1-0 Spain
20:08 , Flo Clifford‘48: Bronze is there to make the counter with another brilliant direct run. Her ball falls to Hemp but she is cleared out by Carmona and although Bronze gets back, that’s the end of that.
England 1-0 Spain
20:06 , Flo Clifford‘47: Hemp gets away from Carmona and lashes in an inviting cross as England look to make another quick start. It’s cut out and the resulting Stanway attempt is dealt with too.
But Spain break quickly, Gonzalez pulls it back for Putellas... but England get numbers back and Hampton falls on the ball as it gently trickles toward goal.
SECOND HALF: England 1-0 Spain
20:04 , Flo CliffordBack underway at Wembley! More of the same, please...
WATCH: Hemp bundles England into lead
19:58 , Jamie BraidwoodRusso’s little flick on the ground is very cool. Nonchalant.
What a start for England! 🏴
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 14, 2026
The European Champions lead the World Champions inside the first three minutes
Lauren Hemp gets the final touch ⚽️#ITVFootball | @Lionesses pic.twitter.com/AW5HdZEl7w
HALF-TIME: England 1-0 Spain
19:54 , Jamie BraidwoodJob done so far for the Lionesses and Sarina Wiegman, who have led since the third minute after Lauren Hemp’s goal that just about crossed the line.
Spain have been limited to only a couple of chances since then, while England look pretty threatening on the counter-attack when they can draw the Spanish press.
HALF-TIME: England 1-0 Spain
19:49 , Flo Clifford‘45+3: Russo draws the foul in the middle of the park and wins the free-kick. England try to get it forward... but that’s it for the half.
England 1-0 Spain
19:47 , Flo Clifford‘45: Caldentey sends in a lovely lofted pass and Guijarro is there yards from goal to poke it in - but Hampton gets there.
Three minutes added on to this half.
England 1-0 Spain
19:42 , Flo Clifford‘42: Morgan also went down but is up quickly. Bronze is greeted with warm applause as she eventually gets up too, with a wad of cotton in her nose fo rgood measure.
England 1-0 Spain
19:42 , Jamie Braidwood, at Wembley39’: Lucy Bronze played through a fractured tibia at the Euros. It looks like she’s going to battle on tonight with a cotton tube stuck up her nose.
England 1-0 Spain
19:40 , Flo Clifford‘39: Ouch, Bronze clatters her head against Putellas’ shoulder as they fight for the ball and is down on the ground. It takes a while for the ref to call a halt for her to be attended to.
There’s no VAR tonight, so this won’t be looked at.
SAVE! England 1-0 Spain
19:38 , Flo Clifford‘37: Carmona loses the ball and Russo pounces! She drives near the back line and lets fly but Coll makes a split-second save!
CLOSE! England 1-0 Spain
19:37 , Flo Clifford‘36: Hampton sends a perfectly weighed long ball down to Bronze, Russo makes the run down the centre but Bronze’s first touch is heavy and Mapi Leon gets her outstretched leg to it... Bronze gets back to run it out for a corner.
The corner is taken short and cleared badly by Spain, Walsh has a first shot deflected back to her before firing over the bar!
England 1-0 Spain
19:35 , Jamie Braidwood‘35: Spain are missing Aitana Bonmati tonight and the Ballon d’Or holder is exactly the type of player you would want if trying to open up a deep defence, which has been England’s approach since taking the lead.
Still, that was a little reminder of Spain’s technical quality as Batlle was allowed to receive the one-two and fire over.
England 1-0 Spain
19:34 , Flo Clifford‘34: Danger! Batlle floats through to the edge of the box but sends it sailing over the bar!
England 1-0 Spain
19:32 , Flo Clifford‘31: Wubben-Moy looks for the path of Russo but the move breaks down and Morgan sends it back to Hampton.
She tries to thread it to Russo down the pitch but she’s closed down by two Spain shirts.
WIDE! England 1-0 Spain
19:28 , Flo Clifford‘27: Spain are dominating possession at the moment. Lopez is so dangerous and she lets fly from distance again, looking for the top corner, but it drifts wide.
England 1-0 Spain
19:26 , Flo Clifford‘25: England are sitting deep and inviting pressure, while looking to catch Spain on the counter, where they’ve looked uncharacteristically vulnerable.
It’s a risky strategy against such a quality side, but so far they’ve stayed out of trouble...
Lopez is the latest to try to catch them out, but runs into traffic on the edge of the box.
England 1-0 Spain
19:21 , Jamie Braidwood19’: A lovely move between Bronze and Hemp, who is looking confident on the right wing. This England side feels balanced.
England famously only led in the knockout stages of the Euros for four minutes and 52 seconds as they went on to win the title on penalties.
They have a long time left to hold on to their lead tonight but it looks like it may suit them?
OFF THE POST! England 1-0 Spain
19:20 , Flo Clifford‘19: England nearly double their lead!
It’s a counter which catches Spain by surprise. Bronze combines superbly with Hemp, who lashes a brilliant strike goalward - but it clatters off the post!
Russo isn’t in space to get the rebound.
England 1-0 Spain
19:18 , Flo Clifford‘17: Pina lays it off for Caldentey but very uncharacteristically the latter’s touch is heavy and it gets away from her! James is there to pounce and drive it away to safety.
England 1-0 Spain
19:15 , Flo Clifford‘13: Spain have settled into this now and Batlle just shanks her attempt on the rebound after they have a shot blocked, sending it wide.
England 1-0 Spain
19:11 , Flo Clifford
England 1-0 Spain
19:11 , Jamie Braidwood, at Wembley‘10: It’s easy to forget that Lauren James was forced off during the Euros final against Spain due to injury and didn’t even make it to half-time. She was England’s best player when the Lionesses beat Spain here last February and she has been deployed back on the left wing, where she controlled the game in that 1-0 win.
There’s a sense of excitement amongst the fans when she gets on the ball and she’s already won the corner that led to the ball and created a chance for herself by dribbling at Ona Batlle.
England 1-0 Spain
19:10 , Flo Clifford‘9: Hampton plays a sloppy pass that deflects off Caldentey’s outstretched leg. The ball falls to Lopez with the goal wide open, but she doesn’t take the opportunity; she takes a touch and Walsh gets back in time to send the ball wide. Hampton holds her hand up in apology.
Pina’s corner is narrowly headed over the bar by Paredes.
OVER THE BAR! England 1-0 Spain
19:08 , Flo Clifford‘7: Spain now win a corner of their own but England fare slightly better with that, as it goes out for a goal kick.
Now the Lionesses build: Stanway charges down the pitch and lays it off for James, who rounds her defender with ease but blasts over the bar.
GOAL! England 1-0 Spain
19:05 , Jamie BraidwoodIt was chaos in the box but Russo’s touch while on the ground to flick the ball up for Hemp was remarkable! Spain appeal, but the whole ball crossed the line! The referees looked very unsure so thank goodness for goal line technology.
GOAL! England 1-0 Spain
19:05 , Flo Clifford‘3: What a start!
Greenwood whips in the cross. It bounces around the box and Spain fail to clear - Russo knocks it down and Hemp is there with an acrobatic kick on the turn to score!
Spain have a real fumble at the back and want to argue against it, but it clearly crossed the line, and goal-line technology confirms it.
England 0-0 Spain
19:03 , Flo Clifford‘3: Spain get this underway.
Russo is busy early on, sliding in on Putellas and conceding a free-kick, but no booking.
England now have an early corner...
