England faced China in a women's international friendly at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, November 29, 2025. The match marked the sixth meeting between the two nations.

Sarina Wiegman, England's coach, decided to experiment with the lineup in preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Several key players were unavailable, including Leah Williamson, Michelle Agyemang, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, and Jess Carter. Anna Moorhouse made her debut for England, stepping in for Hannah Hampton, who is recovering from a quad injury.

Despite the changes, Wiegman fielded a strong starting XI, featuring Euro 2025 stars Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, and Ella Toone in midfield. Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, and Lauren Hemp also started the match.

The Lionesses have won two of their five previous encounters with China, including a 6-1 victory in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup group stage. China's only previous away game against England was a 2-1 defeat in Manchester in April 2015.

The marketing for the match highlighted the clash of continental champions, with England holding the European Championship title and China winning the 2022 Asian Cup. However, the teams' trajectories have differed recently, with England's dominance widening the gap.

The last time they met, at the 2023 Women's World Cup, England won 6-1. The Lionesses adopted a 3-5-2 formation due to Keira Walsh's absence, a tactical change that boosted their campaign. Since the World Cup, England has returned to their preferred 4-3-3 formation, with Walsh as a key player in midfield.

Prior to the match, former England star Fran Kirby, a 2022 Euros winner, was honored on the pitch with a framed 77 shirt.