England midfielder Missy Bo Kearns announces pregnancy with partner and fellow professional footballer Liam Walsh

Aston Villa's Missy Bo Kearns and Luton's Liam Walsh are expecting their first child in Sept 2026. Sarina Wiegman and Lionesses offer congratulations.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 2, 2026, 6:35 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from GOAL

Announcement and social media reveal

Missy Bo Kearns made her pregnancy public via a social media video on Sunday evening, featuring herself and her partner, Liam Walsh. The couple shared footage of them painting "mum and dad, Sept 26" on a wall in their home, accompanied by ultrasound scans. The announcement follows Kearns' omission from Sarina Wiegman's latest England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, a decision previously attributed to her being "unavailable for selection."

Response from the Lionesses camp

Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of England's qualifier against Ukraine, Sarina Wiegman expressed her delight for the 24 year old midfielder. Wiegman confirmed she had spoken with Kearns recently and wished her well for the "amazing period" ahead. Senior teammate Georgia Stanway also shared her excitement, noting that having a child around the squad would be a new and "cool" experience for this specific generation of the national team.

Historical context of mothers in the England squad

Kearns' pregnancy marks a significant moment for the current era of the Lionesses. While nations such as the United States have a long history of including mothers in their major tournament squads, it has been less common for England in recent years. The most recent high-profile example was Katie Chapman, who represented the Lionesses until 2016. Kearns now has the opportunity to become the first player of the current generation to return to senior international football after giving birth.