The England women's national football team, nicknamed the Lionesses, has been governed by the Football Association (FA) since 1993, having been previously administered by the Women's Football Association (WFA). England played its first international match in November 1972 against Scotland. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, England is permitted by FIFA statutes, as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations, to maintain a national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.
England have qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup six times, reaching the quarter-finals in 1995, 2007 and 2011, finishing fourth in 2019, third in 2015 and as runners-up in 2023. Since 2019, England, as the highest-ranked Home Nation, have been able to qualify an Olympic team on behalf of Great Britain; other British players may be selected in the event of qualification.
England reached the final of the UEFA Women's Championship in 1984 and 2009. They became champions in 2022, marking the first time since 1966 that any senior England football team had won a major championship. They retained their title in 2025, marking the first time that any senior England team had won a major tournament away from home. England have also competed in the UEFA Women's Nations League since the inaugural 2023–24 season. England is set to co-host the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup along with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, earning them an automatic qualification as co-host.