Wales women's national football team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Wales national football team.

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 (149 years ago) (1876).

Wales

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 (158)
Top scorer	Jess Fishlock (46)
FIFA code	WAL
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	31 1 (6 March 2025)[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	1 (first in 2035)
European Championship
Appearances	1 (first in 2025)
Website	www.faw.cymru/en/

Wales qualified for their first major championship, UEFA Women's Euro 2025, in December 2024.^[3] They have never qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup. The closest they have come was falling to Switzerland in the UEFA play-offs final for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.^[4] However, they are set to take part in a World Cup for the first time in 2035 when they automatically qualified as co-host with other three countries in the United Kingdom.

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

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.

On December 3, 2024, the team made history after beating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 qualifying for a first time ever to major women's tournament.^[8]

Team image

Media coverage

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

Colours and logo

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.^[9]

Kit supplier

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

Results and fixtures

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

2024

Republic of Ireland  v  Wales

27 February Friendly	Republic of Ireland	0–2	Wales	Dublin
19:30 GMT		Report	Fishlock 7' Woodham 22'	Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 8,218 Referee: Frida Mia Klarlund (Denmark)

Wales  v  Croatia

5 April Euro 2025 qualifying	Wales	4–0	Croatia	Wrexham
19:15 BST	Fishlock 4', 50' Rowe 51' James 56'	Report		Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 4,117 Referee: Zuzana Valentová (Slovakia)

Kosovo  v  Wales

9 April Euro 2025 qualifying	Kosovo	0–6	Wales	Podujevë
14:00 CEST		Report	Rowe 30', 60' Barton 44' Morgan 62' Hughes 85', 90+3'	Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium Attendance: 200 Referee: Galiya Echeva (Bulgaria)

Wales  v  Ukraine

31 May Euro 2025 qualifying	Wales	1–1	Ukraine	Llanelli
19:15 BST	Green 64' (pen.)	Report	Andrukhiv 3'	Stadium: Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 4,046 Referee: Shona Shukrula (Netherlands)

Ukraine  v  Wales

4 June Euro 2025 qualifying	Ukraine	2–2	Wales	Grodzisk Wielkopolski
20:00 CEST	Kalinina 34' Kozlova 90+8'	Report	Green 74' (pen.) Fishlock 77'	Stadium: Stadion Respect Energy Attendance: 88 Referee: Caroline Lanssens (Belgium)

Croatia  v  Wales

12 July Euro 2025 qualifying	Croatia	0–3	Wales	Karlovac
20:15 CEST		Report	Fishlock 14' Ingle 65' Green 89' (pen.)	Stadium: Stadion Branko Čavlović-Čavlek Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza (Spain)

Wales  v  Kosovo

16 July Euro 2025 qualifying	Wales	2–0	Kosovo	Llanelli
18:00 BST	Fishlock 8' McAteer 27'	Report		Stadium: Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 4,199 Referee: Deborah Anex (Switzerland)

Slovakia  v  Wales

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)

Wales  v  Slovakia

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)

Wales  v  Republic of Ireland

29 November UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs	Wales	1–1	Republic of Ireland	Cardiff
19:15 GMT	Woodham 21'	Report	Clark 35' (o.g.)	Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 16,845 Referee: Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi (Italy)

Republic of Ireland  v  Wales

3 December UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs	Republic of Ireland	1–2 (2–3 agg.)	Wales	Dublin
19:30 GMT	Patten 86'	Report	Cain 50' (pen.) Jones 67'	Stadium: Aviva Stadium Attendance: 25,832 Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza (Spain)

2025

Italy  v  Wales

21 February 2025 Nations League	Italy	1–0	Wales	Monza
18:15 CET	Bonansea 5'	Report		Stadium: Stadio Brianteo Attendance: 4,219 Referee: Katalin Kulcsár HUN

Wales  v  Sweden

25 February 2025 Nations League	Wales	1–1	Sweden	Wrexham
19:15 GMT	Barton 77' (pen.)	Report	Angeldahl 14'	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 6,077 Referee: Désirée Grundbacher SUI

Wales  v  Denmark

4 April 2025 Nations League	Wales	1-2	Denmark	Cardiff
19:15 GMT	Holland 34'	Report	Bruun 7' Vangsgaard 72'	Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 6,779 Referee: Michalina Diakow POL

Sweden  v  Wales

8 April 2025 Nations League	Sweden	1-1	Wales	Gothenburg
19:00 CEST	Eriksson 59'	Report	Cain 67'	Stadium: Gamla Ullevi Attendance: 8,759 Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo ESP

Denmark  v  Wales

30 May 2025 Nations League	Denmark	v	Wales	Odense
				Stadium: Odense Stadion

Wales  v  Italy

3 June 2025 Nations League	Wales	v	Italy	Swansea
				Stadium: Liberty Stadium

Wales  v  Netherlands

5 July Euro 2025 group stage	Wales	v	Netherlands	Lucerne
18:00 CEST				Stadium: Swissporarena

France  v  Wales

9 July Euro 2025 group stage	France	v	Wales	St. Gallen
21:00 CEST				Stadium: Kybunpark

England  v  Wales

13 July Euro 2025 group stage	England	v	Wales	St. Gallen
21:00 CEST				Stadium: Kybunpark

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 26 February 2024.

Position	Name
Head coach	Rhian Wilkinson
Assistant coach	John Grey
Goalkeeping coach	Jen Herst
Head of physical performance	Luke Taylor

Manager history

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

• Sylvia Gore (1979–1989)^[10]
• Lyn Jones (1992-1995)
• Sue Lopez (1995–1996)
• Roy Thomas (1996–2000)^[11][12]
• Sian Williams (2000–2003)
• Andy Beattie (2003–2007)
• Adrian Tucker (2007–2010)^[13]
• Jarmo Matikainen (2010–2014)^[14][15]
• Jayne Ludlow (2014–2021)^[16][17]
• Gemma Grainger (2021–2024)^[18]
• Rhian Wilkinson (2024–)^[19]

Players

Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers

See also: Category:Wales women's international footballers

Current squad

The following players were called up for Matchdays 5 and 6 of the 2025 Nations League to be played on Friday, 30 May 2025 and Tuesday, 3 June 2025 in the Odense Stadium, Odense and Liberty Stadium, Swansea respectively against Denmark and Italy^[20]

• All caps and goals as of 9 April 2025, after Matchday 4 of the 2025 Nations League against Sweden, played at the Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
12	1GK	Olivia Clark	(2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 (age 23)	28	0	Leicester City
	1GK	Soffia Kelly	(2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 (age 18)	0	0	Aston Villa
21	1GK	Safia Middleton-Patel	(2004-09-21) 21 September 2004 (age 20)	3	0	Manchester United
1	1GK	Poppy Soper	(2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Blackburn Rovers
2	2DF	Lily Woodham	(2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 24)	37	3	Crystal Palace (loan)
3	2DF	Gemma Evans	(1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 (age 28)	75	1	Liverpool
4	2DF	Mayzee Davies	(2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 18)	5	0	Manchester City
18	2DF	Esther Morgan	(2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 (age 22)	10	0	Sheffield United
5	2DF	Rhiannon Roberts	(1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 (age 34)	79	2	Real Betis
14	2DF	Hayley Ladd	(1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 31)	103	3	Everton
17	2DF	Lois Joel	(1999-06-02) 2 June 1999 (age 25)	8	0	Newcastle United
23	2DF	Ffion Morgan	(2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 25)	42	2	Bristol City
	3MF	Jess Fishlock	(1987-01-14) 14 January 1987 (age 38)	160	46	Seattle Reign
	3MF	Ceri Holland	(1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 27)	41	6	Liverpool
6	3MF	Josie Green	(1993-04-25) 25 April 1993 (age 32)	37	0	Crystal Palace
8	3MF	Angharad James (Captain)	(1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 (age 30)	130	6	Seattle Reign
16	3MF	Charlie Estcourt	(1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 (age 26)	48	3	DC Power FC
	3MF	Mared Griffiths	(2007-03-03) 3 March 2007 (age 18)	1	0	Manchester United
20	3MF	Carrie Jones	(2003-09-04) 4 September 2003 (age 21)	35	3	IFK Norrköping
22	3MF	Alice Griffiths	(2001-01-22) 22 January 2001 (age 24)	14	0	Durham (loan)
9	4FW	Kayleigh Barton	(1988-03-22) 22 March 1988 (age 37)	86	22	Charlton Athletic
11	4FW	Hannah Cain	(1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 26)	14	3	Leicester City
15	4FW	Elise Hughes	(2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 24)	29	3	Crystal Palace
19	4FW	Ella Powell	(2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 25)	13	0	Bristol City
13	4FW	Rachel Rowe	(1992-09-13) 13 September 1992 (age 32)	74	8	Southampton
7	4FW	Tianna Teisar	(2005-09-24) 24 September 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Bristol City

Recent call-ups

• 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	Laura O'Sullivan-Jones	(1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 33)	59	0	Gwalia United	v. Denmark, 4 April 2025
DF	Scarlett Hill	(2007-10-09) 9 October 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Manchester United
DF	Sophie Ingle	(1991-09-02) 2 September 1991 (age 33)	141	6	Chelsea	v.  Kosovo, 16 July 2024
DF	Amy Richardson	(2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Partick Thistle (loan)	v.  Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE
DF	Cadi Rodgers	(2007-08-29) 29 August 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Chelsea	v.  Croatia, 12 July 2024PRE
MF	Josie Longhurst	(2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Vancouver Whitecaps	v. Sweden, 8 April 2025
MF	Anna Filbey	(1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 25)	7	0	Watford	v.  Republic of Ireland, 29 November 2024PRE
MF	Ellen Jones	(2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Sunderland	v. Sweden, 26 February 2025
MF	Charlotte Lee	(2006-01-05) 5 January 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Aston Villa	v.  Slovakia, 25 October 2024PRE
FW	Olivia Francis	(2006-02-20) 20 February 2006 (age 19)	0	0	Liverpool Feds (loan)	v.  Ukraine, 4 June 2024
FW	Mary McAteer	(2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 21)	7	1	Sunderland	v.  Sweden. 8 April 2025
Notes PRE = Preliminary squad

Captains

• Jayne Ludlow (−2012)
• Jess Fishlock (2012–2015)^[21]
• Sophie Ingle (2015–2024)
• Jess Fishlock (2024)
• Hayley Ladd (2024/2025) ^[22]
• Ceri Holland (2024)
• Angharad James (2024–)

Records

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.

Most capped players # Player Year(s) Caps 1 Jess Fishlock 2006– 160 2 Sophie Ingle 2009– 141 3 Angharad James 2011– 130 4 Loren Dykes 2007–2021[23] 105 5 Helen Ward 2008–2023 105 6 Natasha Harding 2008–2022 103 7 Hayley Ladd 2008- 103

Top goalscorers

#	Player	Year(s)	Goals	Caps
1	Jess Fishlock	2006–	46	160
2	Helen Ward	2008–2023	44	105
3	Natasha Harding	2008–2022	26	103

In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.^[24]

In April 2024, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 150 caps for the Wales national football team.^[25]

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

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
2031	To be determined									To be determined							To be determined
2035	Qualified									Qualified as co-host
Total	1/12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-		54	24	10	20	96	70		2	1	0	1	2	2

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

UEFA Women's Championship record									Qualifying record
Year	Result	P	W	D*	L	GF	GA		P	W	D*	L	GF	GA	P/R	Rnk
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	Qualified								10	6	3	1	24	7	[a]	20th
Total	1/14	-	-	-	-	-	-		65	21	11	33	93	124	20th

*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.

European Competition for Women's Football (Unofficial)

1979 : Group Stage^[26]

UEFA Women's Nations League

UEFA Women's Nations League record
League phase													Finals
Season	Lg	Grp	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	Rnk		Year	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2023–24	A	3	4th	6	0	1	5	4	15		16th		2024	Did not qualify
2025	A	4	To be determined										2025	To be determined
Total				6	5	0	1	23	9	16th			Total

	Promoted at end of season
	No movement at end of season
	Relegated at end of season
*	Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs

Algarve Cup

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.

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

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

See also

• Sport in Wales
  • Football in Wales
    • Women's football in Wales
• List of Wales women's international footballers
• Wales women's national under-19 football team
• Wales women's national under-17 football team
• Wales national football team
• Wales national football team, the men's team

Notes

1. From Euro 2025 onwards a new qualifying format was introduced, linked to the Women's Nations League where teams are divided into leagues with promotion/relegation between the leagues at the end of each cycle.