Eighteen-year-old midfielder Erica Meg Parkinson has been named in England's 24-player preparation squad for the Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland — the country's first appearance at the tournament since 2018 (BBC Sport).

Head coach Lydia Bedford called up Parkinson, who plays her club football for North Carolina Courage in the United States, as part of a group heading to a warm-weather training camp in Portugal. The camp is England's fourth of the summer and the final one before Bedford trims her squad for the World Cup itself (England Football).

Three players will be cut before the final World Cup squad is announced on Thursday, 20 August. Before that, England face Portugal in a friendly on Thursday, 13 August (BBC Sport).

Parkinson's inclusion catches the eye because she has already trained with the senior national team. She received her first senior call-up in March 2026, at the age of 17, for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland — named in a 23-player squad alongside established names like Leah Williamson and Beth Mead (Sky Sports). She was part of Sarina Wiegman's set-up again for the Spain and Iceland matches in April and has also featured for England's under-23 side (BBC Sport).

In other words, a teenager who has already spent time around the senior squad is now heading to a World Cup at her own age group.

Parkinson is not the only familiar name in Bedford's group. Arsenal pair Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale are included, as is Eva Hendle, who joined Rangers on loan from Chelsea (BBC Sport).

England's preparation work has been thorough. Over the course of three previous camps — including a stint in the USA — Bedford's side have beaten Canada and Colombia, drawn with the USA, and lost to Japan (BBC Sport). The results offer a mixed but useful picture: competitive against top-tier opposition, with areas still to tighten.

At the World Cup itself, England have been drawn in a group alongside Brazil, Tanzania, and Canada. They open their campaign against Canada on Saturday, 5 September (BBC Sport).

England's absence from this tournament stretches back eight years. Returning to the Under-20 Women's World Cup stage means a new generation of players gets a chance to test themselves on the global stage — and for fans, it is an early look at names who may well graduate to the senior side in the years ahead.