Eighteen-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson, who signed with the North Carolina Courage in July, has been included in England’s 24-player training squad for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup. Manager Lydia Bedford will lead the group in a warm-weather camp in Portugal next week.
The squad will compete in a friendly match against Portugal on August 13. Following this, the roster will be reduced by three players before the final squad for the tournament in Poland is confirmed on August 20. Parkinson, who has previously trained with Sarina Wiegman’s senior team and represented the under-23s, joins teammates including Arsenal’s Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale, and Chelsea’s Eva Hendle, who is currently on loan at Rangers.
England faces a group containing Brazil, Tanzania, and Canada in the upcoming tournament, with their first match against Canada scheduled for September 5. Reflecting on the summer training cycle, Bedford highlighted the team’s growth against international opponents and emphasized the importance of the upcoming camp for players looking to secure their place in the final World Cup selection.
