England Lionesses hit 500th game milestone as Euros and World Cup success follows FA ban

England's Lionesses reach their 500th senior international match with a historic journey from FA ban to multiple trophies.

Historic journey to 500 games England's Lionesses are no strangers to rewriting history. The past ten years have brought a string of groundbreaking achievements: their first tournament medal, their first major trophy, and their first successful title defense in a foreign tournament. When Sarina Wiegman's team faces Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday at 17:30 BST, they will mark another historic moment—the 500th match played by England's senior women's national team. The match carries extra significance as England aims to secure a place at next year's World Cup in Brazil, while also chasing further silverware in their iconic white shirts. Regardless of the outcome, this game will forever stand as a testament to how far the English women's game has come since its humble beginnings. ## Early struggles and first match In 1921, the Football Association (FA) imposed a blanket ban on women's football, declaring the sport 'most unsuitable for females.' This ruling confined women's football to local parks and small venues for half a century until the ban was finally lifted in 1971. To celebrate reaching 500 games, a look back at England's women's football history reveals 11 transformative moments. The journey began in November 1972, when England played their very first official match as a Women's Football Association (WFA) team. Traveling to Greenock, Scotland, the Lionesses faced their northern rivals at Ravenscraig Stadium in front of just 400 fans. Trailing 2-0, they staged a thrilling comeback to win 3-2. A year later, in their first official home match in Nuneaton, England delivered a dominant 8-0 victory over Scotland. ## First European final appearance England's first major tournament debut came in 1984, when they competed in a UEFA competition that predated the Women's Euros. Among four teams, they advanced past Denmark with a 3-1 aggregate win. The final was a two-legged affair against Sweden. The Swedes triumphed 1-0 in the first leg in Gothenburg, with a goal from teenage sensation Pia Sundhage. England fought back in the second leg at Luton Town's Kenilworth Road, where Linda Curl's strike levelled the tie. The deciding moment came in a penalty shootout, where Sweden prevailed 4-3 after Curl's spot-kick was saved. ## Wembley debut and record-low crowd The Lionesses made their first appearance at Wembley Stadium in 1989, facing longtime rivals Sweden in a match celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Women's Football Association. The game took place just before an England men's Rous Cup clash against Chile, with around 3,000 fans arriving early to witness the fixture. Sundhage, who had scored in Gothenburg five years earlier, opened the scoring once again. Her strike partner Lena Videkull sealed the win for Sweden. The following men's match drew a record-low crowd of 15,628 and ended in a 0-0 draw. ## FA takes control of women's football Established in 1969, the Women's Football Association (WFA) struggled to keep pace with the sport's rapid growth. In 1993, the committee voted to transfer control of women's football to the Football Association (FA). Unlike the WFA, which relied heavily on volunteers, the FA possessed the financial resources and infrastructure to professionalize and expand the game. In 1994, the FA launched the first Women's Premier League (FAWPL) and took over management of the WFA Cup, National League, and League Cup competitions. ## First full-time coach appointed In 1998, Hope Powell was named the first full-time coach of the England women's senior team as part of a broader push to develop the national game. On the field, she transformed the Lionesses, guiding them to six major tournaments, including the Euro 2009 final in Finland, where Germany defeated England 6-2. Off the field, Powell played a pivotal role in restructuring the women's game, notably helping to establish the FA National Player Development Centre. She also devised player performance strategies and secured central contracts, enabling players to train and compete full-time. ## Historic Euro 2005 on home soil The year 2005 marked a turning point as England hosted its first major women's football tournament. The European Championship drew substantial crowds, with 29,092 fans attending the opening match against Finland at Manchester's City of Manchester Stadium. Additional attendances of 14,695 and 25,694 were recorded for games against Denmark and Sweden at Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park. The final between Germany and Norway attracted 21,105 spectators. All of England's games and the final were broadcast by BBC, with the Sweden fixture peaking at three million viewers. ## Central contracts revolutionize women's football In 2009, the FA took another major step toward professionalizing the women's game by introducing central contracts. Initially awarded to 17 players, these contracts allowed them to train and compete full-time without the burden of balancing football with other full-time jobs. 'We hope this will allow our girls time to concentrate on helping England qualify for major tournaments on a consistent basis and competing at the very top level against the best teams in the world,' said head coach Powell at the time. ## First World Cup medal achieved England women claimed their first-ever medal at a World Cup in 2015, finishing third in Canada. Their campaign exceeded expectations before a heartbreaking semi-final loss to Japan, where Laura Bassett's stoppage-time own goal ended their run. Mark Sampson's side regrouped for the third-place play-off and defeated Germany 1-0 after extra time, with Fara Williams converting a penalty. Back home, millions followed the Lionesses' journey despite the time difference, with up to 2.5 million viewers watching each match and a total of 11.9 million tuning in to portions of their campaign. ## First major trophy won at Euro 2022 In 2022, the Lionesses captured their first major trophy in dramatic fashion. A tense 1-0 victory over Austria kicked off their campaign, followed by emphatic wins over Northern Ireland and two-time winners Norway to top Group A. In the quarter-finals, Georgia Stanway's powerful strike completed a remarkable comeback against tournament favorites Spain. Sweden were then swept aside in the semi-final, with Alessia Russo's backheel standing out among four unanswered goals. The final against Germany at Wembley saw England write their names into history. A crowd of 87,192 watched as Chloe Kelly scored the extra-time winner, securing a 2-1 victory. Celebrations followed as goalkeeper Mary Earps led a dance on the media conference tables, and thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square the next day to celebrate the champions' trophy parade. ## First World Cup final reached in 2023 As defending European champions, England entered the 2023 World Cup in Australia as one of the tournament favorites, despite missing captain Leah Williamson and forward Beth Mead, both sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. They topped their group with three wins from three before overcoming Nigeria, Colombia, and hosts Australia to reach the final in Sydney. Their World Cup journey ended in heartbreak with a 1-0 defeat to Spain. ## Successful Euro 2025 title defense Fresh off their maiden title in 2022 and a World Cup final appearance in 2023, the Lionesses faced immense pressure to defend their European Championship in Switzerland. A shaky start saw them lose 2-1 to France, but they quickly regained momentum. Dominant wins over the Netherlands and Wales secured their knockout stage spot, followed by a dramatic shootout victory over Sweden and a last-gasp triumph over Italy, setting up a final rematch against world champions Spain. The final was another tightly contested affair that went to extra time. Chloe Kelly once again proved decisive, scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout to preserve England's European crown. This victory marked the first time an England senior team had successfully defended a trophy and the first time England had won a major tournament on foreign soil.