The Wales national women's football team () 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 .
Wales qualified for their first major championship, UEFA Women's Euro 2025, in December 2024. 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. However, they are set to potentially 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. 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. The first international under the auspices of the FAW was on 6 September, 1993 against Iceland at the Lido Ground in Port Talbot. Iceland won 1-0.
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 Swiss 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, the Euro 2025. 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. They were placed into group B1 alongside Czechia, Albania, and Montenegro.
League B
On June 9, Wales beat second-place Czechia in the final game to win the group. As group winner, they will be promoted to 2027 UEFA Women's Nations League A. Group winners, runners-up, and third-place teams all advance to a play-off phase.
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 Kit providerPeriodUmbro1996Lotto1996–2000Kappa2000–2008Champion2008–2010Umbro2010–2013Adidas2013–
Results and fixtures
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
2026
Coaching staff Current coaching staff
Position Name Head coach Rhian Wilkinson Assistant coaches Chris Seargant & Gareth Davies Goalkeeping coach Diego Restrepo Head of Physical performance Daniel Gordon Head of Analysis Steffan Popham
Manager history
Sylvia Gore (1979–1989) Lyn Jones (1992-1995) Sue Lopez (1995–1996) Roy Thomas (1996–2000) Sian Williams (2000–2003) Andy Beattie (2003–2007) Adrian Tucker (2007–2010) Jarmo Matikainen (2010–2014) Jayne Ludlow (2014–2021) Gemma Grainger (2021–2024) Jon Grey (2024) Rhian Wilkinson (2024–)
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification play off semi final matches against Albania on 9 and 13 October 2026, respectively.
Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2026, after the match against Czech Republic.
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.
Notes
= Withdrew due to injury
= Preliminary squad / standby = Retired from the national team = Unavailable for selection
Captains Jayne Ludlow (−2012) Jess Fishlock (2012–2015) Sophie Ingle (2015–2024/2026) Jess Fishlock (2024/2025) Hayley Ladd (2024/2025) Ceri Holland (2024/2026) Angharad James-Turner (2024–) Carrie Jones (2026)
Records
Players in bold are still active with the national team.
Most appearances RankPlayerCareerCapsGoals 1 Jess Fishlock 2006–2025 166 48 2 Sophie Ingle 2009–present 152 9 3 Angharad James-Turner 2011–present 145 6 4 Hayley Ladd 2011–present 115 3 5 Helen Ward 2008–2023 105 44 Loren Dykes 2007–2019 3 7 Natasha Harding 2008–2022 103 26 8 Michelle Green 2001–2015 96 4 9 Gemma Evans 2016–present 90 2 10 Kayleigh Barton 2012–2025 89 22 Rhiannon Roberts 2015–present 89 2
Top goalscorers RankPlayerCareerGoalsCapsAvg. 1 Jess Fishlock 2006–2025 48 166 2 Helen Ward 2008–2023 44 105 3 Natasha Harding 2008–2022 26 103 4 Kayleigh Barton 2012–2025 22 89 5 Gwennan Harries 2006–2012 18 56 6 Hannah Cain 2021–present 11 28 7 Rachel Rowe 2015–present 9 85 Sophie Ingle 2009–present 9 152 9 Ceri Holland 2021–present 7 53 10 Angharad James-Turner 2011–present 6 145
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 FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordFIFA World Cup qualification play-offs recordYearRoundPosition* 1991Did not enterUEFA EURO 1991 1995Did not qualifyUEFA EURO 1995 19996024721 20036015213 20076420172 201183052316 201510613189 2019852174 202310622225210122 2027To be determinedTo be determinedTo be determined 2031To be determinedTo be determinedTo be determined 2035QualifiedQualified as co-hostTotal 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 Wales at the UEFA Women's Championship UEFA Women's Championship record Qualifying recordYearResultPWD*LGFGAPWD*LGFGA 1984Did not enterDid not enter 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995Did not qualify6006536 – 19978215915 20016024316 2005WithdrewWithdrew 2009Did not qualify113081121 – 201383141214 201783231311 20228422164 2025Group stage30032131063124720thTotal 1/14 3 0 0 3 2 13 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
UEFA Women's Nations League UEFA Women's Nations League recordLeague phaseFinalsSeasonYear2023–24A34th601541516th 2024Did not qualify2025A44th6024410 14th 2025 Did not qualifyTotal 12 0 3 9 8 25 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 recordYearResultMatchesWinsDrawsLossesGFGA 1994 to 2001did not enter 200212th410319 200312th402248 200410th4202682005 to 2008did not enter 200912th410386 2010did not enter 20118th420267 20128th421134 201312th412134 2014to 2025did not enterTotal 8/26 2895143147
Other tournaments YearResultMatchesWinsDrawsLossesGFGA2023 Pinatar CupRunner-up312021
Head to head record OpponentPldWDLGFGAW%Totals P – Played; W – Won; D – Drawn; L – Lost Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only Up to date as of 8 June 2026
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
References
External links Official website FIFA profile