Lionesses to celebrate 50-year anniversary against United States | OneFootball

The Football Association have announced that the England team’s 50-year anniversary will be celebrated against the United States when the pair meet at Wembley Stadium next month.

The European champions take on the world champions in a sold out clash at the national stadium on Friday 7 October 2022.

The Football Association have today announced plans to dedicate the fixture to 50 years of the Lionesses with more than 100 former England internationals having been invited to the game as guests. Included amongst those England legends will be members of the inaugural team who made history when they played Scotland in the first full international on 18 November 1972. They will line-up with the current generation and representatives from an England development team ahead of kick-off. Attendees from the 1972 team will also receive a bespoke England cap as part of a special presentation. All former England players present will be invited pitchside at half-time to receive applause from the near-90,000 crowd.

In other news, England Women will adopt the tradition of legacy numbers in-line with the men’s team. The initiative will celebrate the individuals who hold the honour of representing the nation at women’s senior level with their own unique number. The legacy numbers will be announced on Friday 18 November 2022, the team’s official anniversary, and will allow all former and current players to collectively acknowledge their own part in England’s history. The legacy numbers will then be worn in England’s matchday shirts from next year.

Speaking following this morning’s announcement, England head coach Sarina Wiegman said “We are all grateful to the former generation of players who have paved the way for today’s growth and success. All of them represented their country with so much talent but also fought so hard on and off the pitch to break barriers and make the women’s game what it now is.

“The players today also know the challenges they faced and appreciate everything that has been done to give them the opportunities they now have. It is great we can say thank you to the Lionesses legends.”

The fixture against the United States sees England return to the national stadium for the first time since winning the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 in July.

Source: Official FA press release