WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKLY

IN THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP...

• Picks from the pitch: Highlights from the international break

• Latest headlines: Steph Houghton honoured, England U17 in World Cup Semi-finals

• Fave finds: Abby Wambach x Mae Martin

• Kit drop: Adidas Originals x Grace Clinton

• Jobs: New opportunities in football

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⚽ PICKS FROM THE PITCH

International Highlights

We’re on an International break, so we’ve mixed things up and chosen our picks from across the international pitches this week.

ENGLAND VS GERMANY

This was not the start to England’s Euro 2025 preparations that anyone was hoping for. A messy and defensively shambolic display leaves Wiegman’s predictable starting lineup under scrutiny. Loose passes, unforced errors and lack of organisation left the Lionesses looking chaotic.

There is perhaps a chance England underestimated Germany, a team firmly in transition with a new manager in Christian Wück, and a fresh crop of young players stepping into the shoes of recently retired legends such as Popp and Frohms.

Either way, there’ll be a lot of eyes on how Wiegman responds to England’s disappointing display in their next game against South Africa on Tuesday night. Especially with a friendly against Emma Hayes’s USA just around the corner.

Watch the post-match comments

EURO 2025 QUALIFIERS

Earlier this year the first 9 teams qualified for Euro 2025, the other 7 places are being competed for in the play-off phase. Round 1, which will be played across two legs, started on Friday with mixed results for the home nation teams:

• Slovakia 2 - 1 Wales (Highlights)

• Hungry 0 - 1 Scotland (Highlights)

• Croatia 1 - 1 Northern Ireland (Highlights)

Second-leg games will be played this Tuesday. The winners of Round 1 fixtures after both legs will progress to Round 2, held between 27 November and 3 December.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

• Netherlands 15 - 0 Indonesia (Highlights)

• Spain 1 - 1 Canada (Highlights)

• USA 3 - 1 Iceland (Highlights) - Pretty much every goal here was a cracker. Special mention to Alyssa Thompson who bagged her first USWNT goal.

🚨ICYMI

Top Headlines

👏 Steph Houghton was honoured before the England vs Germany game in her retirement ceremony. The ex-England Captain, who made 121 appearances and scored 13 goals for her country, has been called a trailblazer. She led both club and country through major growth in the women’s game, making a lasting impact on the game as a whole as well as her teammates. 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England U17 qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals despite a 4-0 hammering by North Korea in their final group game. They faced Japan drawing 2-2 before winning 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out. England will face Spain in their Semi-final draw on Thursday.

⚽ Alessia Russo has won England Women’s 2023-24 Player of the Year, as voted for by fans. She also took the top goal-scorer award. 

🍁 The launch of Canada’s first pro women’s football league, the Northern League is getting real. Jade Kovacevic has signed for Toronto FC becoming the very first player to be signed in the Northern League.

🕵️ Top NWSL officials are expected to visit five potential expansion teams ahead of awarding the 16th franchise in the league. Although unconfirmed the teams thought to be in the mix are Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Nashville and Philadelphia.

🏆 Kansas City Current won the inaugural NWSl x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup trophy after beating Gotham FC 2-0.  Temwa Chawinga scored twice to bring the silverware home.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

Top Links

→ England’s defensive issues exposed: Will Wiegman make a change?

→ Stop infantilising women’s football fans

👀 FAVE FINDS

Wambach x Mae Martin

Abby Wambach will join comedians Mae Martin, Tig Notaro and Fortune Feimster on Tuesday’s episode of the Handsome podcast. In each episode, the hosts attempt to answer a question and this time Abby Wambach asks about ‘getting back to your self’. Head to Spotify to check out the latest episode when it drops.

Football Voices Festival
The National Football Museum, Manchester
Friday 8-Sunday 10 November
Three days of talks, exhibitions, pop-ups, poetry, fashion, and more. Check out the whole programme and grab your tickets here.

Pixel FC Academy is a new 5-month programme that has been designed to help young women break into the football media and content industry. Academy members will learn from experts and top professionals to build skills in broadcast punditry to create viral content. Applications are now open for the January - May 2025 programme.

🧠 QUIZ

Which former WSL manager is reported to be the front-runner for the Arsenal manager job?

(Answer at bottom of the email)

👟 KIT DROP

Clinton gets her Originals on

Grace Clinton has stepped into some modelling with the latest Adidas Originals x Pro:Direct Soccer collab. Browse the collection here.

Just in time for the darker nights, Nike’s Hi-Vis 2024/2025 Barclays Women’s Super League Flight Ball is here. (Not yet available to buy)

Ok, so we’re not sure how many of you are avid F1 fans, but Puma has released this Ultra Ultimate Mexico Grand Pre-inspired boot in collaboration with Pro:Direct Soccer. It’s available in an FG/AG soleplate and comes in Elite and Match fits.

🛋️ DITCH THE SOFA

Upcoming events

Set Piece Social Pop-up
8 Mackintosh Lane, E9 6AB
Sunday 3 November, Doors open from 12:00
12:30, 16:30 and 18:45 WSL matches

The Cutback x Baller FC - WSL Watch Party
Sunday 3 November, 12:00 - 17:00
Signature Brew Haggerston, E8 4EA
Get your free ticket here

Lonely Girls Club (LGC) Community Trip
LGC is a community to help you find friends and have fun. They organise all kinds of events and next on their list is Man City’s visit to Stamford Bridge in the WSL.
Chelsea vs Man City

16 November, Stamford Bridge
LGC area, pre and post-match meetup.

More info

Is there a women’s football event happening near you? Give us a heads-up.

📺 WEEKLY WATCHLIST

What We’re Watching

Tuesday 29 October
Euro 2025 Play-Offs 2nd Leg
19:00 - Northern Ireland vs Croatia (BBC iPlayer)
19:15 - Wales vs Slovakia (BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer)
19:35 - Scotland vs Hungry (BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer)

International Friendlies
19:45 - England vs South Africa (ITV4, ITVX)

Wednesday 30 October
U17 World Cup
23:00 - USA vs North Korea, Semi-Final (FIFA+)

Thursday 31 October
U17 World Cup
23:00 - England vs Spain, Semi-Final (FIFA+)

Sunday 3 November
U17 World Cup
18:30 - Third Place Play-Off (FIFA+)
22:00 - FInal (FIFA+)

WSL
12:30 - Manchester United vs Arsenal (BBC 2, BBC iPLayer)
14:00 - Brighton vs Leicester City (WSL YouTube)
14:00 - Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (WSL YouTube)
14:00 - Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United (WSL YouTube)
16:30 - Aston Villa vs Liverpool (WSL YouTube)
18:45 - Everton vs Chelsea (Sky Sports)

📂 JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

More Women Working in Football

• Maternity Cover - Head of Women's Sport Science | Tottenham Hotspur | Apply now

• Team Sport Marketing Manager | Redbull | Apply now

• Strategy Manager (Female Health) - PT | The FA | Apply by 29 October

• Production Coordinator, EFL | IMG | Apply by 30 October

• Content Operations Manager (1yr FTC) | The FA | Apply by 3 November

🧠 QUIZ ANSWER:

Nick Cushing. The former Manchester City manager is said to be the leading candidate, although Arsenal are in no rush to fill the vacancy having full confidence in interim head coach Renee Slegers.

More women watching, playing and working in football