Para Lionesses finish third at IBSA Women's Blind EURO

The England women's Blind squad finished third at the 2026 IBSA Women's Blind Football European Championship, after beating Para Neutral Team on penalties in the third-place play-off. 

Held in Istanbul from 3 to 7 October, the Para Lionesses finished their group stage with four points having drawn all of their fixtures against Para Neutral Team, Austria, Poland and Türkiye, before securing bronze medals with a victory on spot-kicks in their closing fixture. 

Reports from each game can be seen below.

The Squad: 1 Alicia Grimmond, 13 Katie Christopher, 9 Samantha Gough, 6 Amelie Ford, 3 Freya Gavin, 11 Caitlin Leigh, 2 Selina Prieto, 10 Lucja Wyrwantowicz, 5 Alice Hopkins

England 2-2 Para Neutral Team (2-0 Pens)
Wednesday 7 October 2026

England finished third in the tournament following a penalty shoot-out victory over Para Neutral Team in the third-place play-off on Wednesday 7 October.

After falling a goal behind, England captain Samantha Gough levelled the scores with a fantastic run and finish straight from the restart. 

Para Neutral Team went 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half-time, before Gough found the net to equalise again with a powerful right-footed strike.

The game finished 2-2 in normal time and went to spot-kicks, with Gough and Alice Hopkins converting their penalties and Katie Christopher producing two saves to earn the Para Lionesses third place. 

Line-up: Alicia Grimmond (GK), Samantha Gough, Amelie Ford, Alice Hopkins, Caitlin Leigh

Substitutes used: Freya Gavin, Selina Prieto, Lucja Wyrwantowicz, Katie Christopher (GK)

England 0-0 Türkiye
Tuesday 6 October 2026

England missed out on a place in the 2026 IBSA Women's Blind Football European Championship final after drawing 0-0 with Türkiye on Tuesday. 

After a first half of few clear chances, the game came to life in the second period, with Samantha Gough creating several openings in front of goal and forcing good saves from the opposition goalkeeper. 

Alice Hopkins also had an effort saved from a tight angle, before Gough came close again with just two minutes remaining on the clock as the game became stretched in the closing stages. 

England will next be in action in the third-place play-off on Wednesday 7 October.

Line-up: 1 Alicia Grimmond, 5 Alice Hopkins, 6 Amelie Ford, 9 Samantha Gough, 11 Caitlin Leigh

Substitutes used: 3 Freya Gavin, 7 Lucja Wyrwantowicz

England 1-1 Poland
Monday 5 October 2026

England maintained their unbeaten record thanks to a powerful, right-footed finish from Samantha Gough in the second half of their clash with Poland.

The opposition had taken the lead from close-range early in the opening period, but Gough's fine strike levelled things up. England must beat Turkiye in their final game to reach the final. 

Line-up: 1 Alicia Grimmond (c), 5 Alice Hopkins, 6 Amelie Ford, 9 Samantha Gough, 7 Lucja Wyrwantowicz.

Subs used: 11 Caitlin Leigh

Subs not used: 13 Katie Christopher, 2 Selina Prieto, 3 Freya Gavin

England 0-0 Austria
Sunday 4 October 2026

England remain unbeaten after two games, having played out another goal-less draw against Austria.

The Para Lionesses came close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions. Anna Hopkins forced a good save from the opposition goalkeeper with a powerful strike in the first half, while Samantha Gough flashed an effort just wide of the post after the break.

Line-up: 13 Katie Christopher, 5 Alice Hopkins, 6 Amelie Ford, 9 Samantha Gough, 10 Lucja Wyrwantowicz.

Substitutes: 1 Alicia Grimmond, 2 Selina Prieto, 3 Freya Gavin, 11 Caitlin Leigh 

England 0-0 Para Neutral Team
Saturday 3 October 2026

England were held to a goal-less draw in their opening match in Istanbul, as they made a solid start to the campaign.

Line-up: 1 Alicia Grimmond (c), 5 Alice Hopkins, 6 Amelie Ford, 9 - Samantha Gough, 7 Lucja Wyrwantowicz.

Substitute: 3 Freya Gavin