# Wiegman drops Kelly and Toone for World Cup

> Wiegman drops Kelly and Toone to test England’s World Cup readiness.
- Title: Wiegman drops Kelly and Toone for World Cup · the Guardian
- Summary: Wiegman drops Kelly and Toone to test England’s World Cup readiness. Sarina Wiegman dropped Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone from England’s World Cup squad after…
- Keywords: sarina wiegman, chloe kelly, ella toone, england women's football, world cup 2027, lionsesses, playoff against greece, sports, Wiegman, drops, Kelly, Toone
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/30/dropping-toone-and-kelly-world-cup-masterstroke-wiegman
- Published: 2026-09-30T07:00:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sarina wiegman, chloe kelly, ella toone, england women's football, world cup 2027, lionsesses, playoff against greece, sports
## Wiegman drops Kelly and Toone
Sarina Wiegman left out Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone from England’s October playoff squad against Greece.

> The main reason is that I think the levels weren’t what I expect from them on the pitch.
## Wiegman’s reason for drop
Wiegman said Kelly and Toone didn’t meet her expectations in recent matches, despite their past success in major tournaments.

> The main reason is that I think the levels weren’t what I expect from them on the pitch.
## Kelly’s injury concerns
Kelly’s Arsenal coach confirmed she is managing hamstring issues, making her unavailable for Wednesday’s Women’s Champions League match.

> She’s had some issues with her hamstring. There’s nothing we could see from an injury perspective [from scans] but [Kelly is] managing something.
## Toone’s club struggles
Toone has struggled with Manchester United’s new manager, Eva Olid, as few players excelled in their first two matches.

> Eva Olid
## Wiegman’s message to players
Wiegman told Kelly and Toone they must improve their form to earn a spot in the World Cup squad.

> I still believe in them, they’re not in the squad but I believe in them.
## Wiegman’s confidence in players
Wiegman believes Kelly and Toone can improve their form and earn a place in the World Cup squad.

> I hope they come back even better than they were before.
## Opportunity for improvement
If Kelly and Toone improve their form, they could secure a World Cup spot and prove Wiegman’s strategy successful.

> I think they took the feedback in a good and in a positive way but it’s hard to take at the same time of course.
## World Cup qualification timeline
England must qualify for the 2027 World Cup through two playoff rounds starting with October’s tie against Greece.

> There are just under nine months to go until the start of the World Cup
## Key takeaway

Sarina Wiegman dropped Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone from England’s World Cup squad after they didn’t meet her expectations in recent matches.