England is set to face China PR at Wembley Stadium today, November 29, 2025, in an international friendly match, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 PM GMT. This match marks the third outing for the Lionesses since their victory at the UEFA EURO 2025 in Switzerland.
England's manager, Sarina Wiegman, has indicated that she intends to use the upcoming friendlies against China and Ghana as an opportunity to experiment with the team and evaluate players as she looks ahead to the Women's World Cup in two years. Wiegman stated that these matches provide chances for players to showcase their abilities and for the coaching staff to try out different strategies. She also noted the importance of playing against teams from different continents to experience diverse playing styles, acknowledging China's disciplined and well-structured approach.
With injuries and retirements impacting the squad, these friendlies offer a platform for players to compete for starting positions and increased playing time. Freya Godfrey has received her first senior call-up, while Lucia Kendall and Anouk Denton have earned their second. However, key players like Hannah Hampton, recovering from a quad injury, and Leah Williamson, still unavailable since the Euros, will be absent.
Keira Walsh is expected to captain the Lionesses in place of the injured Leah Williamson, earning her 96th cap for England. Walsh acknowledged the significance of the occasion, emphasizing Leah's irreplaceable role as the team's captain and the special meaning it holds for her and her family.
This will be only China PR's second away game against England, after a 2-1 defeat in Manchester in an April 2015 friendly. England have won two of their five meetings with China PR across all competitions. The last time these two teams met was in the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, where England emerged victorious with a 6-1 scoreline. China PR has struggled against top-ranked teams, losing their last six games against the top five nations (Spain, USA, Sweden, England, Germany) with an aggregate score of 21-3.
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on ITV1 and ITVX.
