Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly left out of England squad for Greece play-off

England have left Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly out of their 23-player squad for October’s two-legged Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece. Manager Sarina Wiegman told BBC Sport that the pair’s performances had fallen below the level she expected. The selection also brings a first senior call-up for Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter and a return for captain Leah Williamson.

The matches on 9 and 13 October are the first stage of England’s route through the European play-offs for the 2027 World Cup. England must get past Greece to reach a second round later in the year, making this squad the group Wiegman has chosen for the immediate qualification test.

Why Toone and Kelly are absent

Toone, a Manchester United midfielder, and Kelly, an Arsenal forward, have 136 England appearances between them, according to BBC Sport. Asked about their omission, Wiegman said: ‘The main reason is that I think the levels weren't what I expect from them on the pitch.’ She also pointed to strong competition for places.

Wiegman described the decisions as difficult and said she believed both players could do better. ‘I hope they respond really well. Where needed, we will support them too,’ she said, according to BBC Sport. Her comments leave open the possibility of a return, without setting out when either player might next be selected.

Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones and Arsenal players Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds are also absent from the 23-player squad, BBC Sport reported. Wiegman’s quoted explanation about performance addressed Toone and Kelly; the report did not give the same reason for each of the other omissions.

A first call-up and a captain’s return

Potter, 20, has received her first senior England call-up. BBC Sport reported that she has started three of Chelsea’s opening four Women’s Super League matches and impressed in their 1-0 win over Arsenal. Wiegman said England had watched her closely last season and that her early-season performances had earned her place.

The midfield group also includes 18-year-old Erica Meg Parkinson, who returns to the squad after joining North Carolina Courage in the summer. London City Lionesses forward Freya Godfrey and Liverpool defender Grace Fisk are the other uncapped players named, according to BBC Sport.

Williamson returns after missing England’s two June matches, a 4-0 defeat by Spain and a 3-0 win over Ukraine. Manchester City full-back Niamh Charles is included after returning from injury as a substitute against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, BBC Sport reported. The squad also contains established players including Keira Walsh, Lauren James and Alessia Russo.

What the Greece tie decides

England travel to Crete for the first leg against Greece on Friday 9 October, with kick-off at 17:30 BST. The return match is in Leicester on Tuesday 13 October at 19:30 BST, according to BBC Sport. The FA’s earlier confirmation of the play-off dates also places the return fixture four days after the first leg.

The tie is part of Europe’s qualification route for the World Cup in Brazil, which runs from 24 June to 25 July 2027. UEFA’s play-off draw paired the winner of Greece against England with the winner of Slovakia against Ukraine in round two. England’s November involvement therefore depends on the aggregate outcome against Greece.

The FA’s season schedule sets aside 24 November to 5 December as England’s next international window and says two matches are possible depending on the Greece result. UEFA lists 26 November to 5 December for the second-round ties. Those are a window and a tie period respectively; confirmed dates for any England second-round matches are still to come.

Four European teams—Denmark, France, Germany and Spain—have already qualified directly by winning their League A groups, UEFA says. Seven further European places and one place in the inter-confederation play-offs will be decided through the two play-off rounds. For England, the next step is the Greece tie with the newly named squad.