Spain moved top of Group C with a 4-0 win over England that delayed England’s qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup and placed the Lionesses under pressure, as Sonia Bermudez’s team combined sharp finishing, strong pressing and control of key moments in Mallorca to overhaul their rivals on goal difference with one match remaining.

The world champions ended a run of two defeats against England, including the Euro 2025 finals, by delivering a heavy scoreline against their main group challengers, with Alexia Putellas scoring twice after Patri Guijarro’s opener and substitute Claudia Pina adding a late fourth to underline Spain’s momentum heading into the final stage of Women’s World Cup qualifying.

Spain struck first on 19 minutes after sustained pressure high up the pitch, when Mariona Caldentey robbed Lucy Bronze, released Patri Guijarro, and Guijarro drifted past Georgia Stanway before guiding a precise low strike from distance into the far corner, giving Hannah Hampton little chance and setting the tone for a one-sided Women’s World Cup qualifying meeting.

The second goal arrived before half-time as Spain exploited space behind England again, with Caldentey threading a through ball to Alexia Putellas, whose driven effort was strong enough that Hampton could only divert it into the net, and Spain entered the break with full control of the Women’s World Cup qualifying contest despite earlier misses from Putellas and Lucia Corrales.

Soon after the restart, Putellas reacted quickest when an initial attempt was scrambled off the line by Lucy Bronze, the clearance coming back off the post and falling kindly for Putellas to finish from close range for 3-0, leaving England chasing shadows in Mallorca and struggling to protect their Women’s World Cup qualifying position.

Spain’s fourth highlighted the depth of Bermudez’s squad in Women’s World Cup qualifying, as substitutes Aitana Bonmati and Claudia Pina combined late on, with Bonmati sliding a pass into the area for Pina to sweep home, adding further damage to the score and confirming Spain’s place at the summit of Group C on goal difference.

{TABLE_1}

Spain’s performance was backed by the numbers, with Bermudez’s side producing 3.52 expected goals from 21 attempts while limiting England to only three shots, none on target and worth 0.21 expected goals, as Putellas led the way with a match-high six attempts and three key passes, second only to Caldentey’s five chances created during this Women’s World Cup qualifying encounter.

This match also marked Aitana Bonmati’s first Spain appearance since a leg fracture at the end of 2025, and although Bonmati quickly supplied an assist from the bench, earning a regular starting place will be difficult while Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro and Mariona Caldentey maintain this level during Women’s World Cup qualifying for the holders.

Georgia Stanway offered one of England’s few attacking moments with a shot from the edge of the box that went just wide of the left post, yet that half-chance summed up the Lionesses’ night, as England finished without a shot on target and now look likely to rely on a play-off route to reach the Women’s World Cup.

England’s heavy loss in Mallorca leaves automatic qualification out of immediate reach and hands Spain control of Group C, as the world champions combine form, fitness and returning players to shape the final phase of Women’s World Cup qualifying, while the Lionesses must quickly respond with one group fixture remaining and possible play-off fixtures ahead.