Erica Meg Parkinson withdraws from England Under-20 training camp in Portugal ahead of World Cup
Erica Meg Parkinson has withdrawn from England's warm-weather Under-20 training camp in Portugal ahead of the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland next month, the Football Association confirmed on 10 August 2026. The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined North Carolina Courage at the start of July, will remain with her club instead of attending the camp.
Parkinson had been included in Lydia Bedford's 24-player squad for the Portugal camp but opted to stay with North Carolina Courage. Club-mate Lauryn Thompson has also withdrawn and both players are now expected to continue with Courage, who sit sixth and remain in contention for a National Women's Soccer League play-off spot. Bedford's squad arrived in Portugal as part of England's preparation for the tournament.
Manchester United's Jessica Anderson and West Ham's Sienna Wareing have been called into the camp as Parkinson and Thompson's replacements. After the conclusion of the Portugal training period, Bedford will reduce the group to a 21-player World Cup squad on 20 August. The camp includes a scheduled friendly against Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday.
Parkinson was involved with Sarina Wiegman's senior squad for the April fixtures against Spain and Iceland and has also featured for England's Under-23 side. Arsenal duo Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale, plus Eva Hendle—who joined Rangers on loan from Chelsea last month—are included in the Under-20 group announced for the camp. The selection mixes players based in England, the United States and on loan at other clubs.
The full 24-player group named for the Portugal camp comprises Goalkeepers: Eve Annets (Manchester City), Kaiya Jota (Stanford University), Sophia Poor (London City Lionesses). Defenders: Ria Bose (West Ham), Sacha Lewis (Manchester City), Sophie Harwood (Arsenal), Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), Grace McEwen (Brighton), Lucy Newell (Manchester United), Chloe Paxton (Sunderland), Zara Shaw (Liverpool). Midfielders: May Cruft (Rangers), Chloe Hylton (Carolina Ascent), Vera Jones (Chelsea), Sienna Wareing (West Ham United). Forwards: Princess Ademiluyi (Gotham FC, on loan to Ipswich Town), Jessica Anderson (Manchester United), Ava Baker (Birmingham City, on loan to Ipswich Town), Lily Dent (Brighton, on loan to Sunderland), Layla Drury (Manchester United), Jessie Gale (Arsenal), Eva Hendle (Chelsea, on loan to Rangers), Vivienne Lia (Arsenal), Lois Shooter (Chelsea, on loan to Nottingham Forest).
This is England's fourth training camp of the summer; Bedford's side have beaten Canada and Colombia, drawn with the USA and lost to Japan so far. It will be England's first appearance at an Under-20 Women's World Cup since 2018 and the team have been drawn in a group with Brazil, Tanzania and Canada.
Bedford said: "We've had a really positive summer with some strong performances against top-quality opposition," Bedford said. "The players have embraced every challenge and I'm really pleased with the progress we've made. "With the World Cup squad announcement just around the corner, it's an important opportunity for the players to show what they can do."
England will begin their Under-20 Women's World Cup campaign against Canada on Saturday, 5 September; Bedford will confirm her 21-player tournament squad following the conclusion of the Portugal camp on 20 August.
