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Women's association football team representing Wales From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| |||
| Nickname(s) | The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Association of Wales (FAW) | ||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Rhian Wilkinson | ||
| Captain | Angharad James | ||
| Most caps | Jess Fishlock (156) | ||
| Top scorer | Jess Fishlock (46) | ||
| FIFA code | WAL | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 29  2 (16 August 2024)[1] | ||
| Highest | 29[2] (June–December 2018; August 2023; August 2024) | ||
| Lowest | 57[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 | |||
| Appearances | 0 | ||
| European Championship | |||
| Appearances | 0 | ||
| Website | www | ||
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.
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.
Live television broadcast rights are held by BBC Cymru Wales (Welsh & English language commentary) until 2027.
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]
Win Draw Lose Fixture
| 1 December 2023–24 Nations League | Wales | 1–2 |  Iceland | Cardiff |
| 19:15 GMT |
|
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) |
| 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 |
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Rhian Wilkinson |
| Assistant coach | John Grey |
| Goalkeeping coach |  Jen Herst |
| Head of physical performance | Luke Taylor |
Sylvia Gore (1979–1989)[9] Sue Lopez (1995–1996) Roy Thomas (1996–2000)[10][11] Sian Williams (2000–2003) Andy Beattie (2003–2007) Adrian Tucker (2007–2010)[12]
Jarmo Matikainen (2010–2014)[13][14] Jayne Ludlow (2014–2021)[15][16] Gemma Grainger (2021–2024)[17] Rhian Wilkinson (2024–)[18]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. The first leg will be played at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff on 29 November 2024 and the second leg will be played four days later at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on 3 December 2024.
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 | GK | Laura O'Sullivan-Jones | 23 August 1991 | 59 | 0 | Gwalia United |
| 12 | GK | Olivia Clark | 30 August 2001 | 23 | 0 |  FC Twente |
| 21 | GK | Safia Middleton-Patel | 21 September 2004 | 2 | 0 | Manchester United |
| 5 | DF | Rhiannon Roberts | 30 August 1990 | 73 | 2 |  Real Betis |
| 6 | MF | Josie Green | 25 April 1993 | 31 | 0 | Crystal Palace |
| 14 | DF | Hayley Ladd | 6 October 1993 | 97 | 3 | Manchester United |
| 3 | DF | Gemma Evans | 1 August 1996 | 69 | 1 | Liverpool |
| 4 | DF | Mayzee Davies | 25 August 2006 | 3 | 0 | Liverpool Feds |
| 2 | DF | Lily Woodham | 3 September 2000 | 31 | 2 | Crystal Palace |
| 11 | DF | Lois Joel | 2 June 1999 | 5 | 0 | Newcastle United |
| 23 | DF | Ffion Morgan | 11 May 2000 | 37 | 2 | Bristol City |
| 20 | MF | Carrie Jones | 4 September 2003 | 29 | 2 |  IFK Norrköping |
| 16 | MF | Charlie Estcourt | 27 May 1998 | 44 | 3 |  DC Power FC |
| 22 | MF | Alice Griffiths | 22 January 2001 | 11 | 0 | Southampton |
| 8 | MF | Angharad James (captain) | 1 June 1994 | 124 | 6 | Seattle Reign |
| 10 | MF | Jess Fishlock | 14 January 1987 | 156 | 46 | Seattle Reign |
| 7 | MF | Ceri Holland | 12 December 1997 | 36 | 5 | Liverpool |
| 18 | MF | Mared Griffiths | 3 March 2007 | 0 | 0 | Manchester United |
| 15 | FW | Hannah Cain | 11 February 1999 | 9 | 1 | Leicester City |
| 19 | FW | Ella Powell | 1 February 2000 | 9 | 0 | Bristol City |
| 13 | FW | Rachel Rowe | 13 September 1992 | 70 | 8 | Southampton |
| 9 | FW | Kayleigh Barton | 22 March 1988 | 84 | 21 | Charlton Athletic |
| 17 | FW | Mary McAteer | 2 January 2004 | 7 | 1 | Sunderland |
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Soffia Kelly | 6 March 2007 | 0 | 0 | Aston Villa |
v. Kosovo, 9 April 2024 |
| GK | Poppy Soper | 4 May 2002 | 0 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers |
v. Kosovo, 9 April 2024 |
| DF | Sophie Ingle | 2 September 1991 | 141 | 6 | Chelsea |
v. Kosovo, 16 July 2024 |
| DF | Amy Richardson | 5 January 2006 | 0 | 0 |  Celtic |
v. Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE |
| DF | Cadi Rodgers | 29 August 2007 | 0 | 0 | Chelsea |
v. Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE |
| DF | Esther Morgan | 28 August 2002 | 9 | 0 | Heart of Midlothian |
v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
| MF | Ania Denham | 6 March 2007 | 0 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
v. Croatia, 5 April 2024 |
| MF | Elena Cole | 8 April 2007 | 0 | 0 | Gwalia United |
v. Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE |
| MF | Anna Filbey | 11 October 1999 | 7 | 0 | Watford |
v. Slovakia, 29 October 2024PRE |
| MF | Morgan Rogers | 16 July 2002 | 0 | 0 | Unattached | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
| MF | Megan Wynne | 21 January 1993 | 24 | 1 |  Perth Glory FC |
v.  Denmark, 31 October 2023 |
| MF | Josie Longhurst | 24 February 2002 | 0 | 0 | Vancouver Whitecaps |
v. Denmark, 31 October 2023 |
| MF | Ellen Jones | 10 January 2002 | 0 | 0 | Sunderland |
v. Kosovo, 16 July 2024 |
| MF | Charlotte Lee | 5 January 2006 | 0 | 0 | Aston Villa |
v. Slovakia, 25 October 2024PRE |
| FW | Olivia Francis | 20 February 2006 | 0 | 0 | Liverpool Feds (loan) |
v. Ukraine, 4 June 2024 |
| FW | Elise Hughes | 15 April 2001 | 26 | 3 | Crystal Palace |
v. Kosovo, 9 April 2024 |
| FW | Tegan McGowan | 17 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | Birmingham City |
v. Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024 |
| FW | Tianna Teisar | 24 September 2005 | 0 | 0 | Bristol City |
v. Slovakia, 25 October 2024PRE |
| ||||||
Most capped players
Top goalscorers
|
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]
| 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 | ||
 1991 |
did not enter | UEFA EURO 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 |
did not qualify | UEFA EURO 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 |
6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2007 |
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2011 |
8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015 |
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
 2019 |
8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
 2023 |
10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
 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 | ||
| UEFA Women's Championship record | Qualifying record | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
  1984 | did not enter | did not enter | ||||||||||||
| 1987 | ||||||||||||||
| 1989 | ||||||||||||||
| 1991 | ||||||||||||||
| 1993 | ||||||||||||||
| 1995 | did not qualify | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 36 | |||||||
| 1997 |
8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 15 | ||||||||
| 2001 |
6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 16 | ||||||||
| 2005 | Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||
| 2009 | did not qualify | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 21 | |||||||
| 2013 |
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 14 | ||||||||
| 2017 |
8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 | ||||||||
| 2022 |
8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 4 | ||||||||
 2025 | to be determined | to be determined | ||||||||||||
| Total | 0/14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 55 | 15 | 8 | 32 | 69 | 117 | |
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.
| Year | Result | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Pinatar Cup | Runner-up | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
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