In this article, we are going to explore the topic of Wales women's national football team in depth. From its origin and evolution to its impact on today's society, we will analyze all the relevant aspects related to Wales women's national football team. Throughout the article, we will examine different perspectives and opinions from experts in the field, with the goal of providing a complete and objective view of Wales women's national football team. Additionally, we will highlight concrete examples and case studies that will illustrate the importance and relevance of Wales women's national football team today. Without a doubt, this article will be a must read for all those interested in thoroughly understanding the phenomenon of Wales women's national football team.
Nickname(s) | The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Football Association of Wales (FAW) | ||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | Rhian Wilkinson | ||
Captain | Sophie Ingle | ||
Most caps | Jess Fishlock (149) | ||
Top scorer | Helen Ward (44) | ||
FIFA code | WAL | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 32 (15 March 2024) | ||
Highest | 29 (June–December 2018; August 2023) | ||
Lowest | 57 (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 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 .
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.
All of Welsh women's football clubs play in the Welsh women's football league system. Wales, as a country of the United Kingdom, is not a member of the International Olympic Committee and therefore the national team does not compete in the Olympic Games.
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.
Kit provider | Period |
---|---|
Umbro | 1996 |
Lotto | 1996–2000 |
Kappa | 2000–2008 |
Champion | 2008–2010 |
Umbro | 2010–2013 |
Adidas | 2013– |
Win Draw Lose Fixture
9 July Friendly | United States | 2–0 | Wales | San Jose, California |
16:00 ET |
|
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) |
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 | v | Ukraine | Llanelli |
Report | Stadium: Parc y Scarlets |
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying | Ukraine | v | Wales | |
Report |
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Croatia | v | Wales | |
Report |
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Wales | v | Kosovo | |
Report |
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head coach | Rhian Wilkinson |
Assistant coach | John Grey |
Goalkeeping coach | Jen Herst |
Head of physical performance | Luke Taylor |
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Laura O'Sullivan | 23 August 1991 | 55 | 0 | Cardiff City |
12 | GK | Olivia Clark | 30 August 2001 | 8 | 0 | Watford |
21 | GK | Soffia Kelly | 6 March 2007 | 0 | 0 | FAW Academy South |
4 | DF | Sophie Ingle (captain) | 2 September 1991 | 120 | 3 | Chelsea |
14 | DF | Hayley Ladd | 6 October 1993 | 82 | 2 | Manchester United |
5 | DF | Rhiannon Roberts | 30 August 1990 | 56 | 2 | Real Betis |
3 | DF | Gemma Evans | 1 August 1996 | 45 | 1 | Manchester United |
23 | DF | Ffion Morgan | 11 May 2000 | 19 | 0 | Bristol City |
2 | DF | Lily Woodham | 3 September 2000 | 10 | 1 | Reading |
11 | DF | Lois Joel | 2 June 1999 | 1 | 0 | London City Lionesses |
20 | DF | Mayzee Davies | 25 August 2007 | 0 | 0 | Manchester United |
10 | MF | Jess Fishlock | 14 January 1987 | 134 | 34 | Seattle Reign |
8 | MF | Angharad James | 1 June 1994 | 100 | 4 | Tottenham Hotspur |
16 | MF | Charlie Estcourt | 27 May 1998 | 34 | 3 | Reading |
6 | MF | Josie Green | 25 April 1993 | 23 | 0 | Leicester City |
7 | MF | Ceri Holland | 12 December 1997 | 22 | 4 | Liverpool |
22 | MF | Alice Griffiths | 22 January 2001 | 6 | 0 | Southampton |
18 | MF | Ellen Jones | 10 January 2002 | 0 | 0 | Sunderland |
9 | FW | Kayleigh Green | 22 March 1988 | 65 | 16 | Charlton Athletic |
13 | FW | Rachel Rowe | 13 September 1992 | 49 | 3 | Rangers |
15 | FW | Elise Hughes | 15 April 2001 | 14 | 0 | Crystal Palace |
19 | FW | Ella Powell | 1 February 2000 | 3 | 0 | Bristol City |
17 | FW | Mary McAteer | 2 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Sunderland |
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Safia Middleton-Patel | 21 September 2004 | 0 | 0 | Manchester United | v. Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024 |
DF | Esther Morgan | 28 August 2002 | 6 | 0 | Heart of Midlothian | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
MF | Ania Denham | 22 January 2001 | 0 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | v. Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE |
MF | Mared Griffiths | 3 March 2007 | 0 | 0 | FAW Academy South | v. Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE |
MF | Elena Cole | 8 April 2007 | 0 | 0 | FAW Academy South | v. Croatia, 5 April 2024PRE |
MF | Carrie Jones | 4 September 2003 | 20 | 2 | Bristol City | v. Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024 |
MF | Anna Filbey | 11 October 1999 | 7 | 0 | Crystal Palace | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
MF | Morgan Rogers | 16 July 2002 | 0 | 0 | Billericay Town | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
MF | Megan Wynne | 21 January 1993 | 19 | 1 | Southampton | v. Denmark, 31 October 2023 |
MF | Josie Longhurst | 24 February 2002 | 0 | 0 | Reading | v. Denmark, 31 October 2023 |
MF | Chloe Williams | 22 December 2000 | 1 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Denmark, 26 September 2023 |
FW | Tegan Mcgowan | 17 June 2004 | 0 | 0 | Charlton Athletic | v. Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024 |
FW | Tianna Teisar | 24 September 2005 | 0 | 0 | Cardiff City | v. Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024 |
FW | Olivia Francis | 20 February 2006 | 0 | 0 | Manchester United | v. Republic of Ireland, 27 February 2024 |
FW | Hannah Cain | 11 February 1999 | 8 | 1 | Leicester City | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
FW | Lauren Thomas | 10 January 2000 | 0 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Denmark, 26 September 2023 |
FW | Georgia Walters | 6 April 1993 | 5 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Portugal, 11 April 2023 |
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Most capped players
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Top goalscorers
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In April 2017, Jess Fishlock became the first player to earn 100 caps for the Wales national football team.
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 |
1979 : Group Stage
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 |
Year | Result | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Pinatar Cup | Runner-up | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |