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Wales women's national football team

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Wales
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau)
AssociationFootball Association of Wales (FAW)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachRhian Wilkinson
CaptainAngharad James
Most capsJess Fishlock (156)
Top scorerJess Fishlock (46)
FIFA codeWAL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 29 Increase 2 (16 August 2024)[1]
Highest29[2] (June–December 2018; August 2023; August 2024)
Lowest57[2] (June 2005; May 2006)
First international
 Wales 2–3 Republic of Ireland 
(Llanelli, Wales; 13 May 1973)
Biggest win
 Wales 15–0 Azerbaijan 
(Newtown, Powys, Wales; 21 August 2010)
Biggest defeat
 Germany 12–0 Wales 
(Bielefeld, Germany, 31 March 1994)
 Wales 0–12 Germany 
(Swansea, Wales, 5 May 1994)
World Cup
Appearances0
European Championship
Appearances0
Websitewww.faw.cymru/en/

The Wales national women's football team (Welsh: Tîm pêl-droed merched cenedlaethol Cymru) represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the governing body for football in Wales and the third-oldest national football association in the world, founded in 1876 (148 years ago) (1876).

The team has never qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup or the UEFA European Women's Championship. They most recently came the closest they ever have to qualifying for their first ever FIFA Women's World Cup going all the way to the FIFA Women's World Cup UEFA play-off final before falling to a 2–1 defeat at the fate of an opposition last minute winner in extra time against the Switzerland women's national football team.[3]

Apart from Gwalia United all Welsh women's football clubs play in the Welsh women's football league system.[4] As a country of the United Kingdom, Wales is not a member of the International Olympic Committee and therefore the national team does not compete in the Olympic Games.

History

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The Wales Women's National Team was established in 1973.[5] Their debut fixture was a match against Ireland at Stebonheath Park in Llanelli. A crowd of 3,500 watched them lose 3 - 2.

For 20 years the team was organised independently of the FAW. In 1993, players Laura McAllister, Michelle Adams and Karen Jones, succeeded in persuading the FAW secretary Alun Evans that the FAW should take over the running of the women's national team.[6]

In 2003, the FAW withdrew the team from qualifying games for UEFA Women's Euro 2005 citing the cost of travelling to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Estonia and Israel[6] and cutbacks being needed to support Mark Hughes' men's team. The move was criticised by manager Sian Williams and player Jayne Ludlow and Wales were fined 50,000 Swss Francs by UEFA.

In 2010, Ludlow withdrew from the squad entirely[7] returning only in 2012 with the appointment of Jarmo Matikainen as the first ever full time manager of the women's side.

In 2018, Wales finished second in their World Cup qualifying group for the first time ever, missing out on a playoff spot due to second place team rankings. In 2020 they missed out on a playoff spot by away goals.

Under manager Gemma Grainger, Wales reached the playoffs for qualification to 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. They beat Bosnia, but lost in extra time against Switzerland in Zurich.

Team image

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Media coverage

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Live television broadcast rights are held by BBC Cymru Wales (Welsh & English language commentary) until 2027.

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The primary kit has long been all-red. The crest of the Football Association of Wales features a rampant Welsh Dragon on a white shield. From 1920, the shield was surrounded by a red border, and the letters 'FAW' were added in 1926. The badge was redesigned in 1951, adding a green border with 11 daffodils, as well as the Welsh-language motto Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae ("The best play is team play"). The motto was briefly removed in 1984, but the badge stayed largely the same until 2010, when the shield was changed to feature rounded sides and the motto banner was changed from white to red and green. The dragon also changed from rampant to rampant regardant. The motto was removed again in 2019, following another major redesign of the badge, which saw the top of the shield flattened and the sides changed not to curve outwards; the green border was also thinned and the daffodils removed.[8]

Kit supplier

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Kit provider Period
Umbro 1996
Lotto 1996–2000
Kappa 2000–2008
Champion 2008–2010
Umbro 2010–2013
Adidas 2013–

Results and fixtures

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Main article: Wales women's national football team results (2020–present)
  • The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2023

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1 December 2023–24 Nations League Wales  1–2  Iceland Cardiff
19:15 GMT
  • Hughes 90+4'
 Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 5,275
Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
5 December 2023–24 Nations League Wales  0–0  Germany Swansea
18:30 GMT Report Stadium: Swansea Stadium
Attendance: 5,982
Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu (Romania)

2024

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27 February Friendly Republic of Ireland  0–2  Wales Dublin
19:30 GMT Report
Stadium: Tallaght Stadium
Attendance: 8,218
Referee: Frida Mia Klarlund (Denmark)
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  4–0  Croatia Wrexham
19:15 BST
Report Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 4,117
Referee: Zuzana Valentová (Slovakia)
9 April Euro 2025 qualifying Kosovo  0–6  Wales Podujevë
14:00 CEST Report
Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium
Attendance: 200
Referee: Galiya Echeva (Bulgaria)
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  1–1  Ukraine Llanelli
19:15 BST
Report
Stadium: Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 4,046
Referee: Shona Shukrula (Netherlands)
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying Ukraine  2–2  Wales Grodzisk Wielkopolski
20:00 CEST
Report
Stadium: Stadion Respect Energy
Attendance: 88
Referee: Caroline Lanssens (Belgium)
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying Croatia  0–3  Wales Karlovac
20:15 CEST Report
Stadium: Stadion Branko Čavlović-Čavlek
Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza (Spain)
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  2–0  Kosovo Llanelli
18:00 BST
Report Stadium: Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 4,199
Referee: Deborah Anex (Switzerland)
25 October UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Slovakia  2–1  Wales Poprad
17:30 CEST Šurnovská 49'
Mikolajová 58'		 Report Morgan 89' Stadium: NTC Poprad
Attendance: 2,013
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
29 October UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Wales  2–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 agg.)		  Slovakia Cardiff
19:15 GMT Fishlock 39'
Holland 112'		 Report Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 10,504
Referee: Ewa Augustyn (Poland)
29 November UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Wales  v  Republic of Ireland Cardiff
GMT Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
3 December UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs Republic of Ireland  v  Wales Dublin
GMT Stadium: Aviva Stadium

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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As of 26 February 2024.
Position Name
Head coach Canada Rhian Wilkinson
Assistant coach Wales John Grey
Goalkeeping coach England Jen Herst
Head of physical performance England Luke Taylor

Manager history

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See also: Category:Wales women's national football team managers

Players

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Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers
See also: Category:Wales women's international footballers

Current squad

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These last two winning matches meant that Wales finished top of Group 4 Euro 2025 qualifying as a seeded team for the play-offs. The play-off draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday 19 July 2024 at 13:00 CET and Wales were drawn against Slovakia. The first leg was played at the National Training Centre Poprad, Poprad, Slovakia on 25 October 2024 and the second leg was played four days later at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff on 29 October 2024. The winners of this tie was Wales, 3-2 on aggregate, setting up a play off final against Republic of Ireland.

Wales have also gained promotion for the upcoming 2025–26 UEFA Women's Nations League.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Laura O'Sullivan-Jones (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 33) 59 0 Wales Gwalia United
12 1GK Olivia Clark (2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 (age 23) 23 0 Netherlands FC Twente
21 1GK Safia Middleton-Patel (2004-09-21) 21 September 2004 (age 20) 2 0 England Manchester United
5 2DF Rhiannon Roberts (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 (age 34) 73 2 Spain Real Betis
6 3MF Josie Green (1993-04-25) 25 April 1993 (age 31) 31 0 England Crystal Palace
14 2DF Hayley Ladd (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 31) 97 3 England Manchester United
3 2DF Gemma Evans (1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 (age 28) 69 1 England Liverpool
4 2DF Mayzee Davies (2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 18) 3 0 England Liverpool Feds
2 2DF Lily Woodham (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 24) 31 2 England Crystal Palace
11 2DF Lois Joel (1999-06-02) 2 June 1999 (age 25) 5 0 England Newcastle United
23 2DF Ffion Morgan (2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 24) 37 2 England Bristol City
3MF Anna Filbey (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 25) 7 0 England Watford
20 3MF Carrie Jones (2003-09-04) 4 September 2003 (age 21) 29 2 Sweden IFK Norrköping
3MF Ellen Jones (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 22) 0 0 England Sunderland
16 3MF Charlie Estcourt (1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 (age 26) 44 3 United States DC Power FC
22 3MF Alice Griffiths (2001-01-22) 22 January 2001 (age 23) 11 0 England Southampton
8 3MF Angharad James (captain) (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 (age 30) 124 6 United States Seattle Reign
10 3MF Jess Fishlock (1987-01-14) 14 January 1987 (age 37) 156 46 United States Seattle Reign
7 3MF Ceri Holland (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 26) 36 5 England Liverpool
18 3MF Mared Griffiths (2007-03-03) 3 March 2007 (age 17) 0 0 England Manchester United
15 4FW Hannah Cain (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 25) 9 1 England Leicester City
19 4FW Ella Powell (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 24) 9 0 England Bristol City
13 4FW Rachel Rowe (1992-09-13) 13 September 1992 (age 32) 70 8 England Southampton
4FW Tianna Teisar (2005-09-24) 24 September 2005 (age 19) 0 0 England Bristol City
9 4FW Kayleigh Barton (1988-03-22) 22 March 1988 (age 36) 84 21 England Charlton Athletic
17 4FW Mary McAteer (2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 20) 7 1 England Sunderland

Recent call-ups

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  • The following players have been called up for a Wales squad in the last 12 months.
  • This information may be incomplete or incorrect.
Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Soffia Kelly (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 (age 17) 0 0 England Aston Villa v.  Kosovo, 9 April 2024
GK Poppy Soper (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 (age 22) 0 0 England Blackburn Rovers v.  Kosovo, 9 April 2024
DF Sophie Ingle (1991-09-02) 2 September 1991 (age 33) 141 6 England Chelsea v.  Kosovo, 16 July 2024
DF Amy Richardson (2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 18) 0 0 Scotland Celtic v.  Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE
DF Cadi Rodgers (2007-08-29) 29 August 2007 (age 17) 0 0 England Chelsea v.  Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE
DF Esther Morgan (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 (age 22) 9 0 Scotland Heart of Midlothian v.  Germany, 5 December 2023
MF Ania Denham (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 (age 17) 0 0 England Wolverhampton Wanderers v.  Croatia, 5 April 2024
MF Elena Cole (2007-04-08) 8 April 2007 (age 17) 0 0 Wales Gwalia United v.  Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE
MF Morgan Rogers (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 22) 0 0 England Loughborough Lightning F.C. v.  Germany, 5 December 2023
MF Megan Wynne (1993-01-21) 21 January 1993 (age 31) 24 1 Australia Perth Glory FC v.  Denmark, 31 October 2023
MF Josie Longhurst (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Canada Vancouver Whitecaps v.  Denmark, 31 October 2023
MF Charlotte Lee (2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 18) 0 0 England Aston Villa v.  Slovakia, 25 October 2024PRE
FW Olivia Francis (2006-02-20) 20 February 2006 (age 18) 0 0 England Liverpool Feds (loan) v.  Ukraine, 4 June 2024
FW Elise Hughes (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 23) 26 3 England Crystal Palace v.  Kosovo, 9 April 2024
FW Tegan McGowan (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 (age 20) 0 0 England Birmingham City v.  Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024
Notes
  • PRE = Preliminary squad

Captains

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Records

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Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers
See also: Category:Wales women's international footballers
  • *Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 4 June 2024.

In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.[22]

In April 2024, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 150 caps for the Wales national football team.[23]

Competitive record

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FIFA Women's World Cup

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FIFA World Cup record Qualification record FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
China 1991 did not enter UEFA EURO 1991
Sweden 1995 did not qualify UEFA EURO 1995
United States 1999 6 0 2 4 7 21
United States 2003 6 0 1 5 2 13
China 2007 6 4 2 0 17 2
Germany 2011 8 3 0 5 23 16
Canada 2015 10 6 1 3 18 9
France 2019 8 5 2 1 7 4
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 10 6 2 2 22 5 2 1 0 1 2 2
Brazil 2027 to be determined to be determined to be determined
Total 0/10 - - - - - - - 54 24 10 20 96 70 2 1 0 1 2 2
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

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UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GP W D* L GF GA
EnglandItalyNorwaySweden 1984 did not enter did not enter
Norway 1987
West Germany 1989
Denmark 1991
Italy 1993
EnglandGermanyNorwaySweden 1995 did not qualify 6 0 0 6 5 36
NorwaySweden 1997 8 2 1 5 9 15
Germany 2001 6 0 2 4 3 16
England 2005 Withdrew Withdrew
Finland 2009 did not qualify 11 3 0 8 11 21
Sweden 2013 8 3 1 4 12 14
Netherlands 2017 8 3 2 3 13 11
England 2022 8 4 2 2 16 4
Switzerland 2025 to be determined to be determined
Total 0/14 - - - - - - 55 15 8 32 69 117
*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.

European Competition for Women's Football (Unofficial)

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1979 : Group Stage[24]

Nations League

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UEFA Women's Nations League

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UEFA Women's Nations League record
League phase Finals
Season LG Grp Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK Year Pos Pld W D L GF GA
2023–24 A 3 4th 6 0 1 5 4 15 16th Europe 2024 Did Not Qualify
2025–26 B To be determined 2026 To be determined
Total 6 5 0 1 23 9 Total 1 Title 2 2 0 0 5 0

Algarve Cup

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The Algarve Cup is a global invitational tournament for national teams in women's soccer hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Held annually in the Algarve region of Portugal since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious women's football events, alongside the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football.

Portugal Algarve Cup record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
1994
to 2001		 did not enter
2002 12th 4 1 0 3 1 9
2003 12th 4 0 2 2 4 8
2004 10th 4 2 0 2 6 8
2005
to 2008		 did not enter
2009 12th 4 1 0 3 8 6
2010 did not enter
2011 8th 4 2 0 2 6 7
2012 8th 4 2 1 1 3 4
2013 12th 4 1 2 1 3 4
2014
to 2022		 did not enter
Total 8/26 28 9 5 14 31 47

Other tournaments

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Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
2023 Pinatar Cup Runner-up 3 1 2 0 2 1

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Wales". FIFA. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  3. ^ "Women's World Cup play-off: Wales hearts broken by extra-time Switzerland winner". BBC. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  4. ^ "MAJOR RESTRUCTURE FOR WOMEN'S GAME IN WALES". FAW. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  5. ^ Harries, Owain (2024-02-23). "Republic of Ireland v Cymru - A fixture that shaped a brighter women's future". FAW. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  6. ^ a b WalesOnline (2003-05-07). "UEFA take action... by fining Wales!". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ^ "Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow calls time on Wales career". BBC Sport. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  8. ^ "A new identity for football in Wales". faw.cymru. Football Association of Wales. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  9. ^ "'For Them' – Where 200 games began for Cymru women". Football Association of Wales. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  10. ^ "North Wales women's football greats: No 3 – Ceryl Tindall-Jones". February 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Internationale wedstrijden – KBVB". static.belgianfootball.be.
  12. ^ "Keeper coach Tucker joins Swans". BBC Sport. 15 July 2009.
  13. ^ Leighton, Tony (4 October 2010). "New Wales coach Jarmo Matikainen sets sights on Euro 2013 qualification". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "Wales Women lose manager Jarmo Matikainen". BBC Sport. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  15. ^ "National Women's Teams Manager – Jayne Ludow". Football Association of Wales. 2 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Jayne Ludlow: Wales manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 18 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Gemma Grainger: Wales appoint new manager to succeed Jayne Ludlow". BBC Sport. 19 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Rhian Wilkinson: Former Canada defender named Wales head coach". BBC Sport. 26 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Cymru squad announced for UEFA Women's EURO play-off final". 20 November 2024.
  20. ^ Pitman, Mark (20 February 2015). "Ingle ready to lead Wales". UEFA. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  21. ^ "LOREN DYKES RETIRES FROM PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL". FA Wales. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  22. ^ Mitchelmore, Ian (5 April 2017). "Jess Fishlock becomes first player to hit 100-cap milestone as Wales Women beat Northern Ireland at Ystrad Mynach". WalesOnline. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  23. ^ BBC, Sport (8 April 2024). "Euro 2025 qualifying: Jess Fishlock to captain Wales in Kosovo". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  24. ^ Erik Garvin. "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
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