Bronze Shines as England Beat Iceland 2-0 to Stay Perfect in Women's World Cup Qualifying

Lucy Bronze continues to age like the finest of wines. The 34-year-old right-back scored and provided an assist as England swept aside Iceland 2-0 in Nottingham on Friday night to maintain their perfect start to 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying.

Bronze, earning her 145th cap, rose to head home a Lauren James cross in the 22nd minute, then turned provider 12 minutes from time with a pinpoint delivery that Georgia Stanway volleyed in. England dominated in front of a sell-out 27,474 crowd at the City Ground — 14 efforts on goal and 69 percent possession in the first half, with Lauren Hemp and Bronze both striking the woodwork before the break.

Iceland spent most of the evening with 11 players behind the ball and did not muster a shot in anger in the first half, though Sandra Jessen's second-half header forced a fine save from Hannah Hampton. As in the midweek win over Ukraine, the Lionesses needed patience after failing to turn dominance into goals quickly, and the atmosphere grew edgier as the minutes ticked by.

The stakes in League A3 are stark: only the group winners qualify automatically for Brazil 2027, meaning either world champions Spain or European champions England face the play-offs. The two sides meet in a blockbuster repeat of the Euro 2025 final next month.