In the world of sports, few phrases spark as much excitement among fans as “When is England playing?” This simple query often surges in popularity during major tournaments, international breaks, or when national pride is on the line. With England’s teams competing across multiple sports football, cricket, and rugby the question can refer to a variety of contexts. As of August 25, 2025, we’re in the thick of a busy sporting calendar, with the Women’s Rugby World Cup underway, cricket series looming, and football qualifiers heating up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This article dives deep into the latest schedules, drawing from official sources and recent updates. We’ll break it down by sport, highlight key fixtures, explore fan FAQs from Google and YouTube searches, and provide context on teams, players, and how to catch the action. Whether you’re a die-hard supporter waving the St. George’s Cross or a casual viewer tuning in for the drama, we’ve got you covered. Let’s kick off with the beautiful game.

England’s Men’s Football Team: World Cup Qualifiers and Beyond

Football remains the heartbeat of English sport, and “When is England playing?” most frequently points to the Three Lions’ schedule. Under the management of Thomas Tuchel (who took over in late 2024), England is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The team has been rebuilding after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, where they reached the final but fell short against Spain. Now, with a mix of veterans like Harry Kane and emerging stars like Kobbie Mainoo, the focus is on securing a spot in the expanded 48-team World Cup hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

Historical Context and Recent Performances

England’s football history is a rollercoaster of glory and heartbreak. The 1966 World Cup triumph remains the pinnacle, but recent years have seen semi-finals in 2018 and finals in Euro 2020 and 2024. Under Gareth Southgate (who stepped down post-Euro 2024), the team adopted a pragmatic style, but Tuchel’s arrival promises more attacking flair, inspired by his Chelsea success. In 2025 so far, England has played friendlies and qualifiers with mixed results. 

A 3-0 win over Latvia in March highlighted defensive solidity, while a loss to Senegal exposed vulnerabilities. Fan reactions on X (formerly Twitter) have been vocal posts lamenting tactical conservatism or praising young talents like Mainoo, who has been reduced to fourth choice at Manchester United but shines internationally.

England cricket: late 2025 fixtures at a glance

England’s cricket calendar in September through November 2025 features a South Africa white-ball tour at home, an ODI series in Ireland, a trip to New Zealand for ODIs and T20Is, and then the start of the Ashes in Australia in late November, with GMT start times and local conversions provided on fixture services. The sequence gives fans multiple formats to follow before the marquee Tests begin in Perth late November.

South Africa in England (September 2025): England complete ODIs and then play three T20Is across Cardiff, Manchester, and Nottingham with evening GMT starts for the T20s, which helps prime-time UK viewing.

Ireland vs England (mid-September 2025): A three-ODI series in Ireland bridges the gap between South Africa’s visit and the New Zealand tour window, typically afternoon starts in local time.

England tour of New Zealand (late October–early November 2025): Three ODIs and three T20Is across Auckland, Mount Maunganui, Hamilton, Wellington and other venues, with overnight/early-morning GMT times due to the time difference.

The Ashes in Australia (from late November 2025): The first Test at Perth Stadium begins November 21 local, which translates to a very early-morning GMT watch for UK-based fans; subsequent Tests follow across December–January per the FTP.

England rugby union: men’s and Red Roses schedules

England men’s rugby completed mid-year Tests and tours, and attention for many fans pivots to the domestic window and then to 2026 Six Nations announcements, while the Red Roses have a major home tournament Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 with pool games in Sunderland, Northampton, and Brighton from late August to early September. Fixture guides lay out exact dates, venues, and kick-off times for those Red Roses matches, which are high-demand tickets and broadcasts.

Red Roses, Rugby World Cup 2025 pool matches: USA (Aug 22, Sunderland), Samoa (Aug 30, Northampton), Australia (Sep 6, Brighton), with early evening local kick-offs ideal for families and UK primetime.

Men’s 2025 summaries in rugby outlets include the June–July internationals and note the already-announced 2026 Six Nations skeleton to help plan ahead, even though the immediate focus now is domestic rugby and international windows further out.

England football: how to track the next match

Because international opponents and venues vary across FIFA/UEFA windows, the quickest way to know “when is England playing” in football is to check the FA’s fixtures hub alongside BBC’s month navigation, both of which post kick-off times once finalized with host associations and TV partners. This is especially important in November 2025, when national teams converge for qualifiers or friendlies and kickoff slots are allocated in 15-minute-staggered patterns across Europe.

The FA site lists the official date, kick-off, and stadium for each England senior men’s match, and it updates promptly if there are changes or ticketing advisories for Wembley dates. BBC’s team page lets supporters scan by month and competition, which is helpful if only the international break is known but the exact day or rival has not been announced yet.

Club context: Premier League calendar around international windows

The Premier League maintains a live fixtures index for every matchweek, which helps identify which weekends are club-heavy versus disrupted by international breaks; fans often cross-reference this to know when the England team can play. As of late August 2025, the season is underway with the next round on the weekend of Aug 30–31, and the official listing details clubs, venues, and kickoff times (e.g., Chelsea v Fulham at Stamford Bridge).

ESPN and Premier League official pages publish consolidated weekly schedules, showing how domestic fixtures cluster on Saturday–Sunday and how TV picks move kick-offs into evening prime slots. The Premier League’s “All 380 fixtures” article for 2025/26 also offers a downloadable calendar to keep track of matchweeks and likely international-break weeks when England is likely to have games.

England rugby union: Red Roses’ home World Cup windows

Interest spikes for “when is England playing” in women’s rugby given the home World Cup in 2025; Rugby World’s consolidated guide shows the Red Roses’ pool game dates, stadiums, and kick-off times for easy planning. These fixtures straddle late August and early September, nested in the UK school holiday period, which often influences family attendance and TV scheduling. England v USA (Pool A) Aug 22, 2025, Stadium of Light, Sunderland, 19:30 BST kick-off. England v Samoa (Pool A) Aug 30, 2025, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 17:00 BST. England v Australia (Pool A) Sep 6, 2025, Brighton and Hove Stadium, 17:00 BST.

For supporters: building a watch plan

Use FA fixtures + BBC calendar to drop holds on likely England football dates; TV picks will set exact evenings within the FIFA window. Map cricket by time zone: UK-friendly for South Africa at home, then overnight for New Zealand and Australia; set alarms for early starts and plan weekend viewing around ODI/T20 blocks. Reserve late August and early September evenings for the Red Roses’ World Cup pool games at UK stadiums; travel logistics within England are facilitated by stadium city transport links listed by host clubs.

Why some dates seem “missing” in searches

Search engines sometimes surface club fixtures over internationals if the club calendar is in full swing, or they reference prior-year international windows; checking the official governing body pages ensures the right month, competition, and stadium are captured for the current season. Likewise, multi-format cricket means ODIs/T20Is/Tests appear on different tabs; look for the “Schedule” or “Fixtures” index for a single chronological list with start times.

Key takeaways

The most direct answer is that England play across multiple codes, so the exact date depends on football, cricket, or rugby and the competition window being followed, with late 2025 packed for cricket and the Red Roses’ World Cup at home. Football fans should refresh the FA and BBC pages during November to lock in the next England men’s match day and kick-off time. 

Cricket fans have a continuous run: South Africa white-ball series in England, Ireland ODIs, New Zealand ODIs/T20Is with overnight UK times, then the Ashes starting Nov 21 in Perth. Rugby supporters can circle Aug 22, Aug 30, and Sep 6 for Red Roses pool games, with tickets and travel based around Sunderland, Northampton, and Brighton.

FAQs

When is the England women’s team playing next?

The England Women’s National Team (Lionesses) are competing in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers. Their next matches are scheduled during the official women’s international breaks. Updated schedules are available on TheFA.com and UEFA.com.

Do England U21, U19, or youth teams have matches too?

Yes, England youth teams regularly play in European qualifiers, friendlies, and tournaments. For example, the England U21s compete in the UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers, and fixtures are also listed on TheFA website.

When is England’s next football match?

England’s next men’s senior football match is in the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 group stage, which continues through autumn 2025. The exact fixture depends on their group schedule, which includes matches against top European nations. Fans can check the official England Football website (TheFA.com) or UEFA.com for the most updated fixtures.

Why was the recent friendly against Senegal played away from Wembley?

The England men’s team hosted Senegal at the City Ground, Nottingham not at Wembley because the stadium was being used for summer events, including concerts and a boxing match. It’s a rare move away from home, with the last City Ground match dating back decades.

In Summary

England’s sporting calendar is packed, with both the men’s and women’s football teams preparing for crucial fixtures and the Red Roses carrying the nation’s hopes at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. The men’s side is focused on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Lionesses are set to test themselves in a high-profile friendly against China, and the Red Roses are aiming to dominate on home soil in a global tournament.

Whether you’re a football fanatic or a rugby supporter, knowing when England is playing next ensures you never miss a moment of the action. Fans can follow live broadcasts, buy tickets for upcoming games, or simply enjoy the thrill of watching England compete at the highest level.

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