Wales women's national football team

History

The Wales Women's National Team was established in 1973. 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.

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 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 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. John Grey was temporarily placed in charge for one match in February 2024 before Rhian Wilkinson took over the reins for the Euro 2025 qualifying which began in April 2024.

On 3 December 2024, the team made history after beating the Republic of Ireland 2-1 qualifying for a first time ever to major women's tournament. Subsequently, Wales ended with three defeats at the group stage of the finals and were eliminated but not before showing that they were one of the best supported teams at their matches in Luzern and St. Gallen.

The European qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup to determine the UEFA teams that will qualify directly for the final tournament and for the inter-confederation play-offs will take place from February to December 2026. The results from the first phase of qualification will also be used to determine the leagues for the 2027 UEFA Women's Nations League.

Draw

Wales were part of the league phase draw which took place at 13:00 CET on 4 November 2025.

League B

Main article: 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA League B

Group winners, runners-up, and third-place teams will advance to the play-off phase. All group winners will be promoted to 2027 UEFA Women's Nations League A, and all fourth-place teams and the two lowest-ranked third-place teams will be relegated to 2027 UEFA Women's Nations League C.

Group B1

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.

Kit supplier

Results and fixtures

Main article: Wales women's national football team results (2010–2019)

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

2025

• Bonansea
• Barton
• Angeldahl
• Holland
• Bruun
• Vangsgaard
• Eriksson
• Cain
• Harder
• Fishlock
• Linari
• Girelli
• Cantore
• Miedema
• Pelova
• Brugts
• Mateo
• Diani
• Majri
• Geyoro
• Fishlock
• Stanway
• Toone
• Hemp
• Russo
• Mead
• Beever-Jones
• Cain
• Griffiths
• Nevin
• Foord
• Hughes
• Jones
• Krezyman ,
• Kokosz
• Tomasiak
• Jedlińska
• Ingle
• Min-Ji
• Ingle
• Cain
• Woodham
• Csillag
• Beney

2026

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Manager history

• ENG Sylvia Gore (1979–1989)
• WAL Lyn Jones (1992-1995)
• ENG Sue Lopez (1995–1996)
• WAL Roy Thomas (1996–2000)
• ENG Sian Williams (2000–2003)
• WAL Andy Beattie (2003–2007)
• WAL Adrian Tucker (2007–2010)
• FIN Jarmo Matikainen (2010–2014)
• WAL Jayne Ludlow (2014–2021)
• ENG Gemma Grainger (2021–2024)
• WAL Jon Grey (2024)
• CAN Rhian Wilkinson (2024–)

Players

Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers

Current squad

The following players were called up for the Friendly matches against South Korea and Switzerland on 28 November and 2 December 2025, respectively. 

:Caps and goals correct as of 2 December 2025, after the match against Switzerland. 

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

;Notes ALT = Alternate --

• INJ = Withdrew due to injury MED = Withdrew due to medical reasons -- PER = Withdrew due to personal reasons --
• PRE = Preliminary squad / standby
• RET = Retired from the national team
• UNV = Unavailable for selection - playing at WU19 level SUS = Serving suspension -- TOP = Train-on player --

WD = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue --

Captains

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

Records

Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers

:Players in bold are still active with the national team.

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

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

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

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship

Wales at the UEFA Women's Championship

:*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.

European Competition for Women's Football (Unofficial)

1979 : Group Stage

UEFA Women's Nations League

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.

Other tournaments

Head to head record

P – Played; W – Won; D – Drawn; L – Lost

Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only

Up to date as of 3 December 2025

Notes

References

References

1. "Wales". FIFA.
2. "Euro 2025 play-off: Wales beat Republic of Ireland to reach first major women's tournament".
3. (11 October 2022). "Women's World Cup play-off: Wales hearts broken by extra-time Switzerland winner". BBC.
4. Harries, Owain. (2024-02-23). "Republic of Ireland v Cymru - A fixture that shaped a brighter women's future".
5. WalesOnline. (2003-05-07). "UEFA take action... by fining Wales!".
6. (2012-10-18). "Arsenal's Jayne Ludlow calls time on Wales career". BBC Sport.
7. Downey, Sophie. (2024-12-03). "Wales weather Ireland storm to reach Euro 2025 and write names in history". The Guardian.
8. (29 October 2025). "Women's European Qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup: How it works, who is in what league?".
9. (30 October 2025). "Women's European Qualifiers for 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup: League stage draw".
10. (7 August 2019). "A new identity for football in Wales". Football Association of Wales.
11. (20 October 2021). "'For Them' – Where 200 games began for Cymru women". [[Football Association of Wales]].
12. (February 8, 2021). "North Wales women's football greats: No 3 – Ceryl Tindall-Jones".
13. "Internationale wedstrijden – KBVB".
14. (15 July 2009). "Keeper coach Tucker joins Swans". [[BBC Sport]].
15. Leighton, Tony. (4 October 2010). "New Wales coach Jarmo Matikainen sets sights on Euro 2013 qualification". [[The Guardian]].
16. (17 January 2014). "Wales Women lose manager Jarmo Matikainen". [[BBC Sport]].
17. (2 October 2014). "National Women's Teams Manager – Jayne Ludow". [[Football Association of Wales]].
18. (18 January 2021). "Jayne Ludlow: Wales manager leaves role". [[BBC Sport]].
19. (19 March 2021). "Gemma Grainger: Wales appoint new manager to succeed Jayne Ludlow". [[BBC Sport]].
20. (15 February 2024). "Wales: Jon Grey will not rule out permanent manager role as he names his first squad". [[BBC Sport]].
21. (26 February 2024). "Rhian Wilkinson: Former Canada defender named Wales head coach". [[BBC Sport]].
22. (19 November 2025). "Cymru squad announced for November international window". Football Association of Wales.
23. "Korea Republic vs. Cymru". Football Association of Wales.
24. [https://faw.cymru/forher/ Welsh Squad]
25. (20 February 2015). "Ingle ready to lead Wales". UEFA.
26. "Wales face up to challenge of life after Fishlock".
27. "Ladd's Honour as she Prepares for 100th Wales Cap".
28. 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.
29. BBC, Sport. (8 April 2024). "Euro 2025 qualifying: Jess Fishlock to captain Wales in Kosovo". BBC Sport.
30. Erik Garvin. "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979".