Last updated: 11 October 2026, 2:15am BST
England Women will take a two-goal lead into Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying play-off return against Greece after winning the first leg 3–1 in Crete, with former Brighton defender Maya Le Tissier among the scorers.
At a glance
- Greece 1–3 England, played at the Pankritio Stadium on Friday 9 October.
- England’s scorers were Georgia Stanway, Maya Le Tissier and Alessia Russo.
- The second leg is at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm BST.
- The FA says tickets are now on general sale through the official England ticket route.
What happened in Greece
Stanway opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Le Tissier doubled England’s advantage in the 63rd. Russo made it 3–0 four minutes later, while Greece’s K. Brouksair reduced the deficit in the 77th minute. The official England match record confirms the 3–1 final score.
The two-legged tie is part of the European play-off route towards the 2027 Women’s World Cup. England are in a strong position, but the away goal does not make the second leg ceremonial: Greece still have 90 minutes to change the aggregate score.
Why Maya Le Tissier’s goal matters in Brighton
Le Tissier joined Brighton & Hove Albion’s development pathway in 2018 and went on to make 73 senior appearances, scoring twice, before moving to Manchester United in 2022. Albion’s own farewell described her as one of the WSL’s best young players and highlighted the role of the club’s pathway in her development.
Her first-leg goal therefore gives this national-team story a direct local thread. It is also a useful reminder that elite player development can produce value beyond immediate league results.
The match generated clear audience interest. Google Trends’ UK “Trending now” page, checked early on 11 October for the preceding 24 hours, listed “greece vs england” at more than 100,000 searches. That is a UK snapshot, not a global ranking or a measure of sentiment.
Second-leg tickets and match details
The FA’s Lionesses page lists the return fixture for Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm BST at the King Power Stadium and links to the official ticket portal. Buyers should use that route rather than resale listings, and check the ticket conditions and final price before payment.
Supporters travelling from Sussex should allow for an evening finish and check the last practical rail connection home before buying. Rail timetables can change, and a ticket for the match does not solve the return-journey problem.
Brighton Locals’ view
England did the difficult part by creating a clear first-leg advantage away from home, and Le Tissier’s goal is a deserved Brighton connection. The risk now is treating Tuesday as a celebration rather than the second half of a knock-out tie.
The useful measure will be how calmly England manage the return: controlling transitions, avoiding an early concession and turning possession into chances without leaving the tie open.
What to watch next
The FA has not yet listed details of the following fixture because the opponent and pathway depend on the completed play-off. Tuesday’s result will determine the next stage, while any squad changes should be checked against the official England team pages.
Bottom line
England have a 3–1 lead, a former Brighton player on the scoresheet and home advantage to finish the job. Tickets are available, but supporters should plan the late journey as carefully as the match.
Related: England Women v Bangladesh cricket tickets at Hove.
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