The Lionesses, who themselves sit third in the world rankings, will have two other challenging home games before the year end. They will meet South Africa at the Coventry Building Society Arena, the home of Coventry City, on Tuesday 29 October [19.45] before bringing the 2024 campaign to a close against UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 hosts Switzerland at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United, on Tuesday 3 December [19.45].
Sarina Wiegman said: “Our preparations for the EURO start now. Securing our place at the tournament next summer, without the need to participate in the Play-Offs, gives us the maximum time to prepare for the challenge that awaits us in Switzerland.
“With the current UEFA Women’s Nations League format the opportunities to play friendlies are limited. Therefore I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to carefully select our opponents and give ourselves four very different and difficult challenges to aid our preparation. Each nation has a different style of play, a variety of strengths and that will test us in different ways.
“Being able to take the team across the country is also very important to us and we’re pleased to be heading back to Coventry and Sheffield and two excellent stadiums. We have happy memories from both cities and I have no doubt the fans will come out in their numbers to support the team, as they always do.”
The South Africa date in Coventry will see the Lionesses return to the city after a 2-1 Arnold Clark Cup victory against Italy in February 2023. It is over a decade since the two sides last met, with England securing a 1-0 win in February 2010 in the Cyprus Cup tournament.
Ticketing details for the South Africa and Switzerland fixtures in Coventry and Sheffield respectively will be announced in due course.