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England Women to take on Germany and Spain next year as part of new annual invitational tournament

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

England Women will take on Germany and Spain next February for the first staging of a new annual women’s tournament.

The new tournament, which is invitational, is designed to boost the Lionesses’ international calendar and a fourth country is due to be added to the line-up soon.

Germany and Spain are, like England, ranked in the top ten of FIFA’s world rankings and the competition will provide the Lionesses with strong opponents in the build-up to next summer’s Euros on home soil and the World Cup in 2023.

The tournament will have three double-header matches played across seven days in a round-robin format.

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Baroness Sue Campbell, director of women’s football at The FA, said: “This exciting new addition to the international calendar promises to further accelerate the rapid growth we are already seeing in women’s football.

“Giving England fans the opportunity to see their team take on some of the best opposition in the world on an annual basis will create substantial interest, leading to a broader fanbase and strengthening grassroots participation. It will also provide the England team with the best preparation heading into the major tournaments over the next four years.

“Pitch International is a world-leader in organising events, has a superb track-record in women’s football, and is perfectly placed to lead the delivery of this new tournament.”

Pitch International, a London-based sports marketing agency, created the tournament concept and has an agreement with The FA through to 2025 to manage all aspects of the tournament.

 (The FA via Getty Images)
(The FA via Getty Images)

Cat Watson, director of women’s sport at Pitch International, said: “We have seen first-hand the increased appetite for top quality women’s football through our distribution of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

“We’re excited to be building on our commitment to women’s football, by investing in and delivering a new tournament featuring the best teams and players from around the world, that will be broadcast to a global audience.”

World Cup qualifying for 2023 begins for new Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman on Friday night when England Women take on North Macedonia in Southampton.

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