Parkinson named in England U20 squad ahead of World Cup

Teenager Erica Meg Parkinson has been named in England's preparation squad for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland next month. The 18-year-old North Carolina Courage midfielder is one of 24 players selected by head coach Lydia Bedford for a warm-weather training camp in Portugal next week.

The squad will have a final opportunity to impress when they face Portugal in a friendly on Thursday, 13 August. Three players will be cut from the squad before the final World Cup roster is announced on Thursday, 20 August.

Parkinson's rise through the ranks

Parkinson was part of Sarina Wiegman's senior setup for the games against Spain and Iceland in April and has also featured for the under-23 side. Her inclusion in the U20 squad continues her rapid progression through England's age-group teams.

She is joined in the under-20 group by Arsenal pair Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale, as well as Eva Hendle, who joined Rangers on loan from Chelsea this week.

Summer preparation and World Cup draw

This is the fourth training camp of the summer for Bedford's side, who have beaten Canada and Colombia, drawn with the USA, and lost to Japan so far. The team is building towards their first appearance at an Under-20 Women's World Cup since 2018.

England have been drawn in a group featuring Brazil, Tanzania, and Canada. They will begin their campaign against Canada on Saturday, 5 September.

Coach's confidence

"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."

The final squad will be confirmed later this month, with the tournament in Poland set to kick off in September.