England faced Australia in a women's international friendly at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. This match marked the eighth time the two sides have met on the international stage. The Lionesses hoped to bounce back from a recent 2-1 defeat to Brazil, while Australia aimed to continue their momentum after a 2-1 victory over Wales.
England entered the game looking to regain their winning form after losing to Brazil. Sarina Wiegman, England's manager, acknowledged that her team had a slow start against Brazil and emphasized the need for a more physical approach against Australia. Wiegman is using these friendlies to experiment with the squad and evaluate different strategies in preparation for the 2027 World Cup.
Australia, managed by Joe Montemurro since four months ago, was keen to avenge their defeat to England in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. Ella Toone's first-half goal had given England the lead in that World Cup match, before Sam Kerr's long-range strike leveled the score after the break. However, second-half goals from Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo secured England's place in the final. The Matildas, with the return of Sam Kerr after a 725-day absence, were expected to present a significant physical challenge to the European champions.
Going into the match, England held the better head-to-head record with four wins compared to Australia's two, with one draw. In their seven previous encounters since 2003, a total of 15 goals have been scored, suggesting an exciting, free-flowing contest.
Team news saw Jess Carter removed from the England squad due to a concussion and replaced by West Ham United defender Anouk Denton. Sarina Wiegman mentioned that some players had "niggles" after the Brazil match but did not disclose further details, while also noting that Lucy Bronze and Niamh Charles are still being built up.
The match was broadcast live on ITV4, with coverage beginning at 6:15 PM. The game at Pride Park was a sell-out, with a sold-out crowd of 33,500. Following the match against Australia, the Lionesses will have a break from international duty, and players will return to their respective league fixtures. The Women's Super League (WSL) is set to resume the weekend of November 1st and 2nd.
