England Women will play Northern Ireland at St George’s Park on 23 February in their first match in almost a year. The Lionesses will also welcome Canada on 13 April as they attempt to get preparations for the home European Championship in 2022 back on track.
England’s last match was a 1-0 defeat by Spain at the close of the SheBelieves Cup on 11 March last year. The then manager, Phil Neville, departed for Inter Miami last month, and the assistant coach Hege Riise is in temporary charge. The former USA women’s national team assistant will oversee the game against Northern Ireland, after which her position will be reviewed. The Netherlands coach, Sarina Wiegman, will take over from Neville on a permanent basis in September, following the Olympics.
The coronavirus pandemic forced England to pull out of a friendly against Germany in Wiesbaden scheduled for 27 October last year and a 1 December match due to take place against Norway at Bramall Lane.
England last played Northern Ireland in 2008, in a European Championship qualifier, when goals from Fara Williams and Faye White were enough to secure victory. Northern Ireland have a place in the play-offs for the Euros, having won their final four group qualifiers.
Canada travelled to England in the buildup to the 2019 World Cup, imposing a bruising 1-0 defeat on the Lionesses in their penultimate game before they travelled to France. Bev Priestman is in charge of Canada, having stepped down as England assistant head coach to take the role in October. The venue is to be confirmed.
The Football Association said: “With the FA continuing to work with the government to get fans back into stadiums as soon as is safe to do so, any ticketing arrangements will be communicated to supporters when relevant.”
The Northern Ireland game will be on BBC iPlayer and red button.
