Portugal vs England LIVE: Lionesses latest score and updates from Nations League opener

England kick off another important year with the opening fixture of their Women’s Nations League campaign against Portugal in the Algarve.

The Lionesses will hope to build form and momentum ahead this summer’s European Championships, where Sarina Wiegman’s side will be seeking to win a second consecutive title at Euro 2025.

Before then, England will look to advance to the Nations League finals, with the tournament also playing a role in qualification towards the 2027 World Cup. The Lionesses will also play world champions Spain and Belgium in Group A3.

England face Spain at Wembley on Wednesday, in what is the first meeting of the teams since the Women’s World Cup final, but before then Wiegman will hope her side can make a winning start in Portugal.

Follow live updates from the Nations League opener in tonight’s live blog, below.

Portugal vs England LIVE: Lionesses score and updates

• Portugal host England in Nations League opener | Live on ITV 1 and ITV X

• Lionesses drawn in Nations League Group A3 with Portugal, Spain and Belgium

• Sarina Wiegman’s side building up to this summer’s Euro 2025

• Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead out injured

• England XI: Earps; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles; Clinton, Walsh; Park, Toone, James; Russo

• Lauren James returns to make first England appearance since April 2024

Portugal 0-0 England

19:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Viewers in the UK can watch the game live for free on ITV 1, while subscribers can also watch online via ITVX.

England XI: Earps; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles; Clinton, Walsh; Park, Toone, James; Russo.

KICK-OFF! Portugal 0-0 England

19:45 , Jamie Braidwood

Still, the Lionesses have to focus on themselves. We’re underway in Portugal as England get their Nations League campaign up and running.

Nations League: Spain 3-2 Belgium

19:44 , Jamie Braidwood

WOW! Spain have scored again! Lucia Garcia gets another! That’s astonishing.

Nations League: Spain 2-2 Belgium

19:42 , Jamie Braidwood

Spain were trailing Belgium 2-0 in the other fixture in Group A3, but Lucia Garcia has scored a 92nd minute equaliser for the world champions!

It still looks as if Spain will be dropping points before facing England on Wednesday.

Portugal vs England

19:41 , Jamie Braidwood

The teams are out and it’s time for the anthems! Not long now until kick-off in Portugal.

Grace Clinton goes for three in a row tonight

19:39 , Jamie Braidwood

Grace Clinton has scored on her last two England appearances. If she scores tonight, the 21-year-old would become the youngest player on record to score in three games in a row, and the first England player to do so since Beth Mead during the Euros in July 2022.

Sarina Wiegman looks ahead to Portugal match

19:38 , Jamie Braidwood

Sarina Wiegman is hoping for a competitive game against Portugal and for those players who are picked tonight to show what they can offer ahead of this summer’s Euros.

“Whether you’re young or whether you’re an experienced player, I want everyone to play at their best and when they play at their best and we’re connected, we’re going to play our best game,” Wiegman said.

“We approach it game-by-game and we want to get good results. Playing these games will give us more learnings too. We’re going in the right direction.

“What you see is we have many talented players and we’re really excited now that the new Nations League starts which is a good group too, starting against Portugal. I’m excited to see the ones who come on the pitch tomorrow to show who they are and what England is about.”

Portugal team news

19:32 , Jamie Braidwood

Portugal have six players in their team with 100 or more caps – and feature the dangerous pair of Jessica Silva and Diana Silva in their attack.

Diana Silva has scored five goals across her last four appearances for Portugal, who went unbeaten in 2024 across all competitions. Their last defeat came against France in December 2023.

Portugal XI: Pereira, Gomes, Carole Costa, Borges, Amado, Marchao,Dolores Silva, Tatiana Pinto, Norton, Jessica Silva, Diana Silva

Subs: Morais, Rute Costa, Seica, Faria, Jacinto,Rute, Ribeiro, Mendes, Capeta, Nazareth, Alves, Dias

England’s Nations League opponents

19:26 , Jamie Braidwood

England’s last meeting with Portugal was a 0-0 draw in their send-off match before the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

In fact, they have recent history with all of their Nations League opponents. The arrival of world champions Spain to Wembley, in a rematch of that World Cup final, offers a reminder of what could have been in Sydney and a stern test against the best team in the world.

Belgium, the final team in Group 3, beat the Lionesses in the last Nations League, as they then felt the effects of a post-World Cup hangover.

Lucy Bronze discusses her Portugal connection: ‘A team I always root for’

19:13 , Jamie Braidwood

Lucy Bronze could have played for Portugal and says she “always roots” for England’s opponents when she is not directly facing them.

Bronze’s father is Portuguese and he met Bronze’s mother in Faro, not far from where England are playing this evening.

“I have always been in good contact with the Portuguese federation. They are a team I always root for,” Bronze said.

“I always hope for the best for them and I hope they do well in the Nations League – just not against us. My first ever kit was a Portugal kit.

“I spent all my holidays in this area and played most of my football here outside. It influenced me a lot. I’m just as proud to be Portuguese as I am to be English.”

Lucy Bronze praises ‘incredibly brave’ Spain players after Luis Rubiales verdict

19:01 , Jamie Braidwood

England defender Lucy Bronze has praised the Spain players involved in the Luis Rubiales case after the former president of the Spanish football federation was found guilty of kissing Jenni Hermoso without her consent.

On Thursday, Rubiales was ordered to pay a fine worth more than 10,000 euros after a Madrid court returned its verdict, with the incident overshadowing Spain’s World Cup final celebrations after victory over England in 2023.

Speaking shortly before the verdict was reached, Bronze, who played with Hermoso and several other members of the Spain team that lifted the World Cup during her time with Barcelona, shared her support for what they had been through.

Lucy Bronze praises ‘incredibly brave’ Spain players after Luis Rubiales verdict

Lauren James returns as Wiegman names England’s strongest team

18:48 , Jamie Braidwood

An England appearance for Lauren James has been a long time coming. The Chelsea forward has missed England’s last eight games due to injury, a run that stretches back to a 2-0 win over Ireland in Dublin in April 2024.

Her Chelsea team-mate Niamh Charles also makes her first start since that international window. It means there are three changes in total from the side that started the 0-0 draw with the USA at the end of November, with Grace Clinton also coming in.

Sarina Wiegman then made wholesale changes for the friendly against Switzerland in England’s last fixture. This line-up is as close to Wiegman’s strongest team given her current options.

Grace Clinton starts as Lauren James returns

18:35 , Jamie Braidwood

Grace Clinton replaces Georgia Stanway in midfield, while Lauren James and Niamh Charles return to the line-up.

Mary Earps starts in goal ahead of Hannah Hapton and left back Charles returns to join Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Millie Bright in the defence.

Clinton partners Keira Walsh in midfield, with Ella Toone selected as No 10.

Alessia Russo starts as striker and James makes her first England appearance this April last year, with Jess Park also named in the forward line.

England team to play Portugal

18:32 , Jamie Braidwood

England XI: Earps; Bronze, Williamson, Bright, Charles; Clinton, Walsh; Park, Toone, James; Russo

Subs: Hampton, Moorhouse, Morgan, Le Tissier, Turner, Carter, Kelly, Naz, Beever-Jones, Parris, Mace, Blindkilde Brown

England’s Women’s Nations League fixtures

18:31 , Jamie Braidwood

England’s match against Portugal will be followed by a rematch of the Women’s World Cup final against Spain at Wembley, in their first home fixture of the Nations League campaign.

In April, England will play a double-header against Belgium, before another Wembley date against Portugal on May 30. The Lionesses then play Spain away from home to close out the campaign.

“It’s very exciting to start 2025 at home in this way,” Wiegman said. “We always want to perform against the best and there’s no doubt that Spain as world champions and Nations League holders are one of the biggest challenges we can face. That’s how we will continue to develop and grow in a big year for us.

• Portugal v England, Friday 21 February

• England v Spain, Wednesday 26 February (Wembley)

• England v Belgium, Friday 4 April (Ashton Gate, Bristol)

• Belgium v England, Tuesday 8 April

• England v Portugal, Friday 30 May (Wembley)

• Spain v England, Tuesday 3 June

Georgia Stanway out for ‘several months’ as Lionesses dealt major injury blow

18:17 , Jamie Braidwood

England are likely to be without Georgia Stanway for their Nations League campaign in a major blow for the Lionesses. The midfielder has started 16 of England’s last 18 matches and played pivotal roles in England’s Euros victory and run to the World Cup final.

Wiegman said she is “hopeful” that Stanway can be fit for England’s opening game against France on 5 July, after Bayern Munich said she suffered “a lateral collateral ligament tear in her right knee” during training and is set to be out for “several months”.

“Georgia has a plan and she’s very committed and very motivated to be back,” Wiegman earlier this month. “She’s in a good place now. It’s first about her health and then coming back, but she knows where she wants to go and where she wants to be at a certain moment. Let’s hope that goes that way.”

Georgia Stanway out for ‘several months’ as Lionesses dealt major injury blow

England’s Euro 2025 squad: Who’s on the plane and who’s got work to do?

18:02 , Jamie Braidwood

England head into Euro 2025 as reigning champions as the Lionesses seek to win a second consecutive European crown. Sarina Wiegman’s side will have to be sharp from their first match in Switzerland, after being drawn alongside France, the Netherlands and Wales in Group D of the July tournament.

England won the Euros on home soil three years ago and then reached the World Cup final the following year, so come into the competition with plenty of major tournament experience. A number of star players from England’s historic triumph will return but there are plenty of new faces competing for their places, too, as well as a couple of major injury concerns.

While there is still plenty of time before England have to name their squad for the Euros, here’s a look at how Wiegman’s plans are shaping up ahead of their opening match against France in Zurich on Saturday 5 July.

England’s Euro 2025 squad: Who’s on the plane and who’s got work to do?

England’s midfield puzzle demands a new combination ahead of Nations League

17:51 , Jamie Braidwood

The art of mastering the role of the box-to-box midfielder is often down to timing. With Georgia Stanway set to be sidelined for England’s Nations League campaign, and facing a race to be fit for the opening game of the Euros in July, a place in Sarina Wiegman’s starting lineup is up for grabs for the foreseeable future.

Crashing the penalty area with a late run ahead of the Euros appears to be Grace Clinton, who has started games for the Lionesses in front of Stanway and Keira Walsh as a No 10 but now looks to be an ideal candidate to feature in central midfield. Wiegman likes Clinton’s versatility and believes the 21-year-old can play as an eight as well as 10.

Preview:

England’s midfield puzzle demands a new combination ahead of Nations League

Injury worries for England and Sarina Wiegman

17:41 , Jamie Braidwood

The absence of Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy this month adds to injuries to Lauren Hemp, Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood and Fran Kirby from the squad.

Forward Hemp remains unavailable but is nearing a return for Manchester City after a knee injury. Midfielder Stanway and defender Greenwood are longer-term absentees after undergoing knee surgeries, with Stanway sidelined for “several months” and facing a race to be fit for the Euros in July.

Decisions for Sarina Wiegman

17:38 , Jamie Braidwood

Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton will likely compete with two-time Fifa ‘Best’ Award-winner Mary Earps for the starting spot in goal, while Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright and Leah Williamson could all feature in defence as Wiegman begins to mould her side ahead of Euro 2025 this summer. Niamh Charles and Jess Carter are competing for a place at left back.

Midfielders Laura Blindkilde Brown and Ruby Mace have kept places in the squad after making their debuts in December, with Grace Clinton, Jess Park and Ella Toone competing for spots alongside Keira Walsh in midfield.

In attack, there may be chances for Aggie Beever-Jones, Kelly and Jessica Naz if Wiegman decides to rest James and Alessia Russo ahead of the match against world champions Spain next week.

What is the England team news?

17:35 , Jamie Braidwood

Sarina Wiegman is able to call upon Lauren James and Niamh Charles for the first time since the Euros qualifying campaign last year, while Nikita Parris has been included in the squad for the first time since 2022.

Arsenal’s Chloe Kelly and Aston Villa’s Lucy Parker have replaced the injured Arsenal duo of Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy from the squad named last month by Sarina Wiegman.

When is Portugal vs England?

17:31 , Jamie Braidwood

The match kicks off at 7.45pm GMT on Friday, 21 February at the Estádio Municipal de Portimao in Portimao, Portugal.

How can I watch the match?

Viewers in the UK can watch the game live for free on ITV 1, while subscribers can also watch online via ITVX. Coverage will begin at 7.30pm.

Good evening

17:30 , Jamie Braidwood

England take on Portugal tonight in the first match of their 2025/26 Nations League campaign, with Sarina Wiegman’s side looking to get off to the perfect start in Group A3.

The Lionesses have stayed in League A after finishing second to the Netherlands in Group A1 in the 2023/24 edition and coming second in their European Championship qualifying group.

And though tonight they face a Portugal team who only managed to qualify for Euro 2025 via the play-offs, England will also face Belgium and world champions Spain in Group A3, with group fixtures taking place between now and June before the tournament finals at the end of 2025.

While England will hope to make the finals, these upcoming matches will also serve as great competitive preparation for Euro 2025, with Wiegman yet to decide on some starting players in key positions ahead of the summer.