England officially call up Liverpool midfielder for summer friendlies
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesLydia Bedford has named a 26-player England women’s national under-20 football team squad for upcoming fixtures against Canada and Japan, as preparations intensify for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.Liverpool midfielder Zara Shaw has been included in the squad for the summer training camp and international matches.The Young Lionesses will travel to Pinatar, Spain, in June for a training camp, followed by friendlies against Canada on June 3 and Japan on June 9.The match against Canada will serve as preparation for their opening World Cup group-stage fixture in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, on September 5.This camp marks the first full assembly of the WU20 squad this season, after players were previously split between the WU23 and WU19 setups during earlier international windows.Four additional camps are planned over the summer as England build towards their first FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup appearance since 2018. England have been drawn in Group B for the September tournament alongside Brazil, Tanzania, and CanadaShaw has progressed through the youth ranks to become part of the senior Liverpool FC Women squad.
The midfielder, who has also represented England at U19 level, made her senior debut in May 2024 after coming on as a substitute in Liverpool’s 4-0 win away at Leicester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League.She signed her first professional contract in August 2025. Shaw spent much of the 2023-24 season sidelined while recovering from an ACL injury sustained the previous August.After returning, she featured eight times in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring her first goal in a 3-1 win over Newcastle United in the Women’s League Cup.
However, she later suffered another ACL setback.Despite the injury challenges, Shaw signed her maiden professional deal ahead of the 2025-26 season as she continues her development at Liverpool.Below is the full England U20 squad:Goalkeepers: Eve Annets (Manchester City), Katie Cox (Chelsea, on loan to Aberdeen), Kaiya Jota (Stanford University).Defenders: Ria Bose (West Ham), Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), Lucy Newell (Manchester United), Chloe Paxton (Sunderland), Chloe Sarwie (Chelsea), Zara Shaw (Liverpool), Mari Ward (Bristol City), Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Arsenal, on loan to FC Rosengård).Midfielders: Lola Brown (Chelsea), May Cruft (Rangers), Laila Harbert (Arsenal, on loan to Everton), Chloe Hylton (Carolina Ascent), Vera Jones (Chelsea), Erica Meg Parkinson (Valadares Gaia), Lexi Potter (Chelsea).Forwards: Princess Ademiluyi (Gotham FC), Ava Baker (Birmingham City), Lily Dent (Brighton & Hove Albion), Denny Draper (Leicester City), Jessie Gale (Arsenal), Eva Hendle (Chelsea), Vivienne Lia (Arsenal, on loan to Hammarby), Lauryn Thompson (North Carolina Courage).Ready to begin their #U20WWC preparation 👊Lydia Bedford has named a 26-player #YoungLionesses squad for their upcoming fixtures against Canada and Japan.— Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 26, 2026 England U20 Zara Shaw