Toone and Kelly Left Out of England Squad for Greece Play-Off

England manager Sarina Wiegman left Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly out of her 23-player Lionesses squad announced on September 29, 2026, for the Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off against Greece, saying both players had “not been playing to their potential” at club level this season.

The squad, unveiled ahead of a two-legged play-off, omits two players who were regular fixtures in England’s run to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 title, while recalling defender Leah Williamson to captain the side after injury. The first leg is scheduled for October 9, 2026, in Crete, with the second leg following on October 13, 2026, at the King Power Stadium in Leicester.

Direct Answer: Why Were Toone and Kelly Dropped?

Sarina Wiegman excluded Ella Toone, 27, and Chloe Kelly, 28, from England’s squad for the Greece play-off because of their club form, not a longer-term rift or disciplinary issue. Wiegman said the decision was based on what she had seen “on the pitch,” pointing to Kelly’s lack of playing time at Arsenal and Toone’s reduced role at Manchester United this season.

What Wiegman Said About the Decision

Announcing the squad on September 29, 2026, Wiegman said neither Toone nor Kelly had been playing to their potential in the current club season. She said the call was made on current form rather than reputation, adding that her assessment was based on what she had seen “on the pitch” in recent weeks.

The manager’s comments mark a rare public explanation for the exclusion of two players who were central to England’s European title defense little more than a year earlier. Both Toone and Kelly scored decisive goals during that tournament run, making their absence now notable enough to draw immediate scrutiny from English media and supporters.

The Numbers Behind the Omissions

The statistics cited around the squad announcement point to a clear form gap. Kelly has not started a single game for Arsenal this season and has not completed 90 minutes in any competition for the club. Toone, by contrast, has featured more regularly for Manchester United, starting three Women’s Super League matches, but she did not feature at all in United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on September 19, 2026.

How we know: figures on starts and minutes played are drawn from match reporting on Arsenal’s and Manchester United’s Women’s Super League fixtures this season, referenced in coverage of the September 29, 2026 squad announcement.

Injury Context Surrounding Kelly

Reports around Kelly’s situation indicate a hamstring issue may be a factor behind her lack of game time, with her camp indicating she intends to use the international break for rehabilitation rather than international duty. That framing suggests fitness, as much as raw form, may have shaped Wiegman’s calculation, even though the manager’s public explanation centered on performance level rather than injury status.

Kelly’s absence is a marked change from her standing over the past two years, during which she became one of the most recognizable attacking players in the England setup. Her omission now, without match minutes to point to in her club campaign, aligns with Wiegman’s stated approach of selecting on current form.

Williamson’s Return as Captain

The squad announcement was not solely defined by who was left out. Leah Williamson was recalled after injury and is set to return as captain for the Greece fixtures, giving England back a settled leadership figure at the heart of defense heading into a must-win qualifying tie. Her return is described as the clearest positive personnel development within the same 23-player announcement that dropped Toone and Kelly.

Williamson’s recovery timeline had been closely watched by England staff throughout September, and her inclusion restores experience to a squad that will otherwise lean on players adapting to altered roles following the two high-profile omissions.

The Stakes: England’s Play-Off Against Greece

England’s route to the Women’s World Cup now runs through a two-legged play-off against Greece. The first leg takes place on October 9, 2026, in Crete, followed by the second leg on October 13, 2026, at the King Power Stadium in Leicester. The format means England will need to manage an away trip to Greek soil before returning to a home fixture to try to seal qualification.

Selecting a 23-player squad for a two-legged tie of this significance without two of the Euro 2025-winning squad’s most familiar attacking names is a notable structural decision for Wiegman, who has generally favored continuity with her title-winning group since last year’s tournament.

Background: Toone and Kelly’s Role in England’s Euro 2025 Triumph

Both players were fixtures in England’s European Championship-winning campaign, with Toone recognized as a reliable attacking midfield presence and Kelly known for delivering high-impact moments off the bench and in wide areas. Their standing after that tournament made them near-automatic picks in the subsequent international window, which is part of why their absence from this squad has generated attention beyond a routine team-sheet update.

The shift also comes amid a broader pattern across the Women’s Super League this season, where several England internationals have seen reduced roles at club level early in the campaign. That dynamic has already shaped other storylines around player availability and match fitness heading into the October international window, including coaching changes at other WSL clubs.

What Happens Next

England’s immediate focus shifts to preparation for the October 9 first leg in Crete, with the return fixture in Leicester four days later determining whether the Lionesses advance in Women’s World Cup qualifying. Wiegman’s squad will need to perform without two of its most experienced attacking figures from the Euro 2025 run, placing added scrutiny on how the group adapts across both legs.

Whether Toone and Kelly return to future squads is likely to depend on their club form recovering in the Women’s Super League over the coming weeks. Wiegman’s comments suggest the door remains open on merit rather than a permanent exclusion, framing the decision explicitly around current performance level rather than a broader falling-out.

Limitations: This report reflects squad news and club-form data available as of September 30, 2026. Match outcomes for the Greece play-off had not yet occurred at the time of writing, and any injury details regarding Kelly are based on reporting around her situation rather than an official club statement.

England’s chase for a place at the Women’s World Cup now hinges on two matches against Greece, with the squad list underlining how quickly club form can reshape international selection even for players who were decisive in a major tournament win little more than a year ago.

Sources

• Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone dropped by England after not hitting ‘expected’ level — theguardian.com
• Chloe Kelly, Ella Toone left out of England squad for World Cup play-off vs. Greece — sports.yahoo.com
• Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone dropped from England squad … — sports.yahoo.com
• Lionesses squad in full as Toone and Kelly miss out — sports.yahoo.com
• Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly left out of England squad — africa.espn.com

Photo: James Boyes from UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons