Leah Williamson ruled out of England's World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Ukraine

Leah Williamson has been ruled out of England’s next two Women’s World Cup qualifiers due to a hamstring injury, with goalkeeper Khiara Keating also unavailable after suffering a concussion in training. Sarina Wiegman has called up Liverpool captain Grace Fisk and Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley as replacements for the fixtures against Spain on June 5 and Ukraine on June 9.

Williamson had already been working through a rehabilitation programme when the hamstring problem confirmed she would miss the back-to-back qualifiers. Keating’s concussion, sustained in training last week, also caused her to miss Manchester City’s FA Cup triumph on Sunday. She will remain with City to follow return-to-play protocols, though there is a possibility she could be available for the second of the two fixtures against Ukraine at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Fisk, who captains Liverpool, has been called into the England squad on several occasions since her first selection in February 2020 but has yet to earn a senior cap. Baggaley is similarly experienced in the England setup, having first been selected a decade ago.

The stakes are significant. England lead their qualifying group with a perfect 12 points, three ahead of second-placed Spain, while Ukraine have yet to open their account. Only the top team from each ‘A’ group qualifies automatically for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, meaning England cannot afford to slip up against their closest rivals.

Wiegman’s side face Spain in Palma before hosting Ukraine in Liverpool, and the absence of their captain adds a layer of difficulty to what was already the most demanding stretch of their qualifying campaign. England reached the final of the 2023 World Cup in Australia, where they were beaten by Spain. They subsequently defeated Spain on penalties in last year’s European Championship final to retain the continental title they first won in 2022.

With qualification within reach, England will need to navigate both fixtures without one of their most influential players.