England missed the chance to secure qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup after they were thrashed 4-0 by Spain, who are now top of Group C.

After Patri Guijarro opened the scoring, Alexia Putellas took centre stage with a brace to take the game away from England, while Claudia Pina came off the bench to wrap up the victory in style.

Spain started on the front foot and went ahead in the 19th minute; Mariona Caldentey dispossessed Lucy Bronze before Guijarro skipped past a challenge from Georgia Stanway and picked out the bottom corner from distance.

Putellas and Lucia Corrales both squandered good chances to double Spain's lead, but the former eventually got the second after being played through on goal by Caldentey, with Hannah Hampton only able to parry the shot into the net.

And it was 3-0 soon after half-time as Putellas reacted quickest to a rebound after her initial effort was cleared off the line and onto the post by Lucy Bronze, who could do nothing about the follow-up.

Stanway saw a half-chance from the edge of the box flash wide of the left post, while Spain added further damage to the scoreline as substitutes Aitana Bonmati and Pina combined to send the hosts top of the qualifying group on goal difference, with just one game to play.

More than just a win for Spain

Spain had lost their previous two games against England, the first of which was the Euro 2025 finals, so a dominant 4-0 win over their closest rivals will do them the world of good, especially if they meet again in the World Cup.

And it was dominant from Sonia Bermudez's side, who produced 3.52 expected goals (xG) from 21 shots while restricting England to just three attempts, none of which were on target, worth 0.21 xG.

Putellas was at the heart of things for the world champions, recording a match-high six shots while creating the second-most chances (three – behind Caldentey with five), while her replacement, Bonmati, made an immediate impact with an assist.

This was Bonmati's first game for Spain since a leg fracture at the end of 2025, and she will know that earning a starting place will not be easy due to the form of Putellas, Guijarro and Caldentey.

England, meanwhile, missed a huge opportunity in Mallorca, with a play-off route now likely for the Lionesses to reach the World Cup.