International Round Up: Kennedy scores four in three at the Asian Cup.

Sixteen players representing nine different countries headed off across the globe at the start of the February/March international window, and our players have delivered plenty of standout moments.

Alanna Kennedy and Saki Kumagai, representing Australia and Japan in the Asian Cup, have both made it to the knockout stages.

Tournament hosts and favourites Alanna Kennedy and Australia kicked off the Asian Cup with a 1-0 against the Philippines in the Group A opener at the Perth Stadium.

Since that game, Kennedy has recorded a brace in Australia’s last two group games, registering two goals in a resounding 4-0 win over Iran, and following that game by scoring two more against South Korea.

Her second against South Korea was a 98^th minute equaliser as the Matildas drew 3-3, to book a place in the quarter-finals against North Korea.

Two-time Asian Cup Winners Japan also had a perfect start, keeping a clean sheet as they beat Chinese Taipei 2-0, with London City Lioness Saki Kumagai an unused substitute.

Kumagai started the second game and played 90 minutes as the Blue Samurai smashed India 11-0, and also started against Vietnam in a 4-0 victory in Japan's final group game. They finished their group top, with three wins, and a +17 goal difference.

England U23’s kicked off 2026 with a 1-0 win against France U23’s at Clairefontaine on Monday afternoon, with Izzy Goodwin and Teyah Goldie both featuring. Teyah Goldie earned Player of the Match honours at the heart of the England defence which kept a clean sheet.

The Young Lionesses’ second friendly was against the Netherlands, with Goodwin and Goldie getting more minutes in the tank. They looked on for a 1-0 victory, only to draw 1-1 as the Dutch equalised in the last action of the game.

Poppy Pattinson made her debut for the England senior team against Ukraine, coming on at half-time, with the game tied at 0-0.

The Lionesses went on to score six in the second half, with Pattinson delighted to make a difference on her debut: “It’s a dream come true, I’m pretty overwhelmed right now!

"It’s a special, special moment and to have my family there in the crowd is amazing.

“I’m not a person who gets too nervous but tonight it hit me a little bit, I’m over the moon really!”

Across the other World Cup qualifiers, club teammates and two legends for their countries, Kosovare Asllani and Elena Linari, went head-to-head as

Sweden edged past Italy 1-0.

Both Kosovare Asllani and Elena Linari started their second game of the international break, Sweden drawing with Serbia and Italy drawing with Denmark, to leave their World Cup qualifying group wide opening ahead of the April internationals.

Spain have made a strong start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, with Jana Fernández featuring from the bench during their 3-0 victory over Iceland and starting against Ukraine in the second fixture as Spain turned out 3-1 winners.

It was Lucía Corrales who stole the headlines in the second fixture, scoring a screamer. She caught hold of a vicious long shot, which fizzed in off the crossbar.

Grace Geyoro completed the full 90 minutes as France fought back to defeat Ireland 2-1 and then started in the French national team’s 4-1 win over Poland, where Wassa Sangaré came off the bench to contribute to the three points.

There was late heartbreak for Finland, with Lotta Lindström and Sanni Franssi both involved as Portugal scored twice after the 90th minute to take a 2-0 win. They made amends with a convincing 3-1 win over Latvia in their second game, with both Lindström and Franssi both featuring.

Meanwhile, Daniëlle van de Donk was an unused substitute in the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Poland. She made her long-awaited return to national team football in the second game, coming off the bench as the Netherlands beat Ireland 2-1.

We are incredibly proud of our London City Lionesses over the course of this international break, once again making their marks on the global stage.

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