Wales women's 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 (1876).

Wales
Nickname(s)The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau)
AssociationFootball Association of Wales (FAW)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachRhian Wilkinson
CaptainHayley Ladd
Most capsJess Fishlock (152)
Top scorerHelen Ward (44)
FIFA codeWAL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 31 1 (14 June 2024)[1]
Highest29[2] (June–December 2018; August 2023)
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 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]

All of 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.

Team image

Media coverage

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.[5]

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

2023
9 July Friendly United States  2–0  Wales San Jose, California
16:00 ET
  • Rodman 76', 87'
 Report Stadium: PayPal Park
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Karen Hernandez (Mexico)
22 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Iceland  1–0  Wales Reykjavík
20:00 (18:00 WET)
Report Stadium: Laugardalsvöllur,
Referee: Katalin Kulcsár (Hungary)
26 September 2023–24 Nations League Wales  1–5  Denmark Cardiff
19:15 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 8,607
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (France)
27 October 2023–24 Nations League Germany  5–1  Wales Sinsheim
17:45
Report Holland 42' Stadium: Rhein-Neckar-Arena
Attendance: 20,107
Referee: Monika Mularczyk (Poland)
31 October 2023–24 Nations League Denmark  2–1  Wales Viborg, Denmark
18:00
Report
Stadium: Viborg Stadium
Attendance: 2,227
Referee: Sandra Braz (Portugal)
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)

2024
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 Podujevo
14:00 CEST Report
Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium
Attendance: 200
Referee: Galiya Echeva (Bulgaria)
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  1–1  Ukraine Llanelli
Report Stadium: Parc y Scarlets
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying Ukraine  2–2  Wales
Report
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying Croatia  v  Wales
Report
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying Wales  v  Kosovo
Report

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

Players
Main article: List of Wales women's international footballers

Current squad
  • The following players were called up for the UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying matches against Ukraine , on 31 May and 4 June 2024 respectively.[16]
  • All caps and goals as of 21 June 2024 after match against Ukraine played at the Stadion Respect Energy, Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Poppy Soper (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002 0 0 Ipswich Town
12 1GK Olivia Clark (2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 20 0 Watford
21 1GK Safia Middleton-Patel (2004-09-21) 21 September 2004 1 0 Manchester United
5 2DF Rhiannon Roberts (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 70 2 Real Betis
14 2DF Hayley Ladd (captain) (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 93 3 Manchester United
3 2DF Gemma Evans (1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 65 1 Manchester United
20 2DF Mayzee Davies (2007-08-25) 25 August 2007 1 0 Manchester United
2 2DF Lily Woodham (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 27 2 Seattle Reign
4 2DF Sophie Ingle (1991-09-02) 2 September 1991 139 5 Chelsea
11 2DF Lois Joel (1999-06-02) 2 June 1999 4 0 London City Lionesses
23 2DF Ffion Morgan (2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 34 1 Bristol City
16 3MF Charlie Estcourt (1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 42 3 Reading
6 3MF Josie Green (1993-04-25) 25 April 1993 29 0 Leicester City
22 3MF Alice Griffiths (2001-01-22) 22 January 2001 7 0 Southampton
8 3MF Angharad James (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 120 6 Seattle Reign
20 3MF Carrie Jones (2003-09-04) 4 September 2003 26 2 Bristol City
10 3MF Jess Fishlock (1987-01-14) 14 January 1987 152 43 Seattle Reign
7 3MF Ceri Holland (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 33 4 Liverpool
18 3MF Ellen Jones (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 0 0 Sunderland
19 4FW Ella Powell (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 7 0 Bristol City
13 4FW Rachel Rowe (1992-09-13) 13 September 1992 66 8 Southampton
9 4FW Kayleigh Green (1988-03-22) 22 March 1988 80 20 Charlton Athletic
17 4FW Mary McAteer (2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 4 0 Sunderland
4FW Tianna Teisar (2005-09-24) 24 September 2005 0 0 Cardiff City
15 4FW Olivia Francis (2006-02-20) 20 February 2006 0 0 Manchester United

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 (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 59 0 Cardiff City v.  Ukraine, 31 May 2024
GK Soffia Kelly (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 0 0 FAW Academy South v.  Kosovo, 9 April 2024
DF Esther Morgan (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 9 0 Heart of Midlothian v.  Germany, 5 December 2023


MF Ania Denham (2007-03-06) 6 March 2007 0 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers v.  Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE
MF Mared Griffiths (2007-03-03) 3 March 2007 0 0 FAW Academy South v.  Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE
MF Elena Cole (2007-04-08) 8 April 2007 0 0 FAW Academy South v.  Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE
MF Anna Filbey (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 7 0 Crystal Palace v.  Germany, 5 December 2023
MF Morgan Rogers (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 0 0 Billericay Town v.  Germany, 5 December 2023
MF Megan Wynne (1993-01-21) 21 January 1993 24 1 Southampton v.  Denmark, 31 October 2023
MF Josie Longhurst (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 0 0 Reading v.  Denmark, 31 October 2023
MF Chloe Williams (2000-12-22) 22 December 2000 1 0 Blackburn Rovers v.  Denmark, 26 September 2023
FW Tegan McGowan (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 0 0 Charlton Athletic v.  Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024
FW Hannah Cain (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 8 1 Leicester City v.  Germany, 5 December 2023
FW Lauren Thomas (2000-01-10) 10 January 2000 0 0 Blackburn Rovers v.  Denmark, 26 September 2023
FW Georgia Walters (1993-04-06) 6 April 1993 5 0 Blackburn Rovers v.  Portugal, 11 April 2023
FW Elise Hughes (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 26 3 Crystal Palace v.  Kosovo, 9 April 2024
Notes
  • PRE = Preliminary squad

Captains

Records
Main article: List of 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.[19]

In April 2024, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 150 caps for the Wales national football team.[20]

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 6024721
2003 6015213
2007 6420172
2011 83052316
2015 10613189
2019 852174
2023 10622225 210122
2027to be determined to be determined to be determined
Total0/10------- 542410209670 210122
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship
UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GP W D* L GF GA
1984did not enter did not enter
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995did not qualify 6006536
1997 8215915
2001 6024316
2005Withdrew Withdrew
2009did not qualify 113081121
2013 83141214
2017 83231311
2022 8422164
2025to be determined to be determined
Total0/14------ 551583269117
*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.

European Competition for Women's Football (Unofficial)

1979 : Group Stage[21]

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
200212th410319
200312th402248
200410th420268
2005
to 2008		did not enter
200912th410386
2010did not enter
20118th420267
20128th421134
201312th412134
2014
to 2022		did not enter
Total8/262895143147

Other tournaments
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
2023 Pinatar Cup Runner-up312021

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
    2. "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. "A new identity for football in Wales". faw.cymru. Football Association of Wales. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
    6. "'For Them' – Where 200 games began for Cymru women". Football Association of Wales. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
    7. "North Wales women's football greats: No 3 – Ceryl Tindall-Jones". February 8, 2021.
    8. "Internationale wedstrijden – KBVB". static.belgianfootball.be.
    9. "Keeper coach Tucker joins Swans". BBC Sport. 15 July 2009.
    10. Leighton, Tony (4 October 2010). "New Wales coach Jarmo Matikainen sets sights on Euro 2013 qualification". The Guardian.
    11. "Wales Women lose manager Jarmo Matikainen". BBC Sport. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
    12. "National Women's Teams Manager – Jayne Ludow". Football Association of Wales. 2 October 2014.
    13. "Jayne Ludlow: Wales manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 18 January 2021.
    14. "Gemma Grainger: Wales appoint new manager to succeed Jayne Ludlow". BBC Sport. 19 March 2021.
    15. "Rhian Wilkinson: Former Canada defender named Wales head coach". BBC Sport. 26 February 2024.
    16. Harries, Owain (15 May 2024). "Cymru squad announced for Ukraine double header".
    17. Pitman, Mark (20 February 2015). "Ingle ready to lead Wales". UEFA. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
    18. "LOREN DYKES RETIRES FROM PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL". FA Wales. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
    19. 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.
    20. BBC, Sport (8 April 2024). "Euro 2025 qualifying: Jess Fishlock to captain Wales in Kosovo". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
    21. Erik Garvin. "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
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