England v Hungary
World Cup Qualifier
Thursday 11 May 2006
Southampton FC
Live on BBC3

26 March 2006
VIDEO: England 0-0 France

England 'keeper and player of the match Rachel Brown talks through the action from the Three Lions draw with France.

The Football Association and Southampton FC are delighted to announce that the England Women’s team will be playing their final FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier of this season against Hungary at the St Mary's Stadium, Southampton.

Kick-off is at 7.05pm, and the game will also be televised live on BBC THREE and group booking forms can be downloaded by clicking here.

The game will be the first time that England's Women have come to Southampton, and having secured three wins and a draw from their opening four qualifiers, Hope Powell's side are hoping to qualify for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, having not reached the Finals since 1995.

In the corresponding fixture in October 2005, The Three Lions racked up a record 13-0 victory over the Magyars, with Kelly Smith, one of the finest talents in women's world football, scoring a hat-trick.

Following Euro 2005, which was staged in the North West last June, England have been followed by bumper crowds as they seek to seal the one qualifying berth from Group 5 which also includes Austria - who England take on at Gillingham FC on 20 April - as well as favourites France, and Holland.

Hope Powell said today: "Our group is incredibly tight and with just four games left, we have to ensure we are totally focused for each of our remaining fixtures.

"St Mary’s is a fantastic stadium which I know the players are very excited about playing in, and is a fitting, first class venue to stage our final qualifier of this season. It will be fantastic to see another big crowd get behind us next month."

Southampton Chairman Rupert Lowe said: "We are delighted to be hosting such a prestigious international fixture at the end of the football season, and with tickets priced to encourage families, schools and local youth groups, we hope to see the stadium packed.

"The Women's team have come a long way in the last four or five years and are great ambassadors for the sport, and I hope they earn another three points at St Mary's towards their World Cup qualification ambitions."

During Euro 2005, the BBC obtained phenomenal viewing figures of 8.2million for England's three group qualifiers, and recorded over half a million viewers on BBC Three for the Mother's Day World Cup qualifier against France on 26 March.

This success and the growing interest in the England side has prompted BBC Three to also televise the Hungary game live. England top Group Five after four games with ten points, followed by Holland on nine and France on seven, with just one team qualifying for the FIFA 2007 Women's World Cup Finals from each group.

Tickets for the game are now on sale priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions. Tickets can be purchased from the Southampton FC ticket office or by calling the ticket hotline on 0870 220 0150.

Special group discounts are available for groups of over 15, with tickets costing just £1 per person, you can download your group booking form by clicking here or at: www.saintsfc.co.uk