Wales women’s senior national football team represent the country at the highest level of international competition.
Administered by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), they play in UEFA and FIFA competitions, including the Women’s World Cup, the Women’s European Championship and the UEFA Women’s Nations League, which replaced the previous international friendlies.
Wales have played competitive matches since 1973, although they were run independently of the FAW until 1993.
Their most notable period of success has come in very recent years, but they have had significant players in the past, including Michelle Adams, Laura McAllister, Jayne Ludlow – who also went on to become national team manager - Loren Dykes, Natasha Harding and Helen Ward.
Wales’ greatest female player has been Jess Fishlock, who has spent two decades in the national team.
Fishlock is not only the team’s most capped player of all time (158 caps at the end of 2024) but also their record goalscorer with 45 goals (2024).
The Cardiff-born midfielder turned 38 in January 2025 and is preparing for her first major international tournament finals appearance – as well as Wales’ first – when she plays at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
Increasingly, Wales have drawn most of their players from English-based clubs, playing in either the Women’s Super League or Women’s Championship.
A few – such as Fishlock and current captain Angharad James – have also been selected whilst playing overseas in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the USA.
A small group, that has included goalkeeper Laura O’Sullivan-Jones, have been based with Welsh clubs.
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It was not until 2010 that the FAW appointed a full-time Wales manager in Jarmo Matikainen and from that point onwards results started to improve.
The Finnish coach helped develop a more professional structure around the national squad and its preparation and training for matches.
Mataikainen was followed by his successor, Ludlow – a hugely decorated and successful player with Arsenal - who slowly started to improve results and tournament campaigns.
Under Ludlow, Wales moved up into the top 30 of the FIFA world rankings and in 2019 they came close to qualifying for the 2019 World Cup – what would have been their first tournament finals.
A magnificent battling 0-0 draw away to England put Wales in a healthy position to qualify, but a 3-0 home defeat to the old enemy at Newport’s Rodney Parade finally ended the dream.
Another very close qualification campaign followed for Euro 2022, but two draws against Northern Ireland eventually meant Wales missed out on goal difference.
Grainger left the job and was replaced by English coach, Gemma Grainger. Once again, Wales were ably guided to the brink of tournament qualification – this time for the 2023 World Cup – but lost out agonisingly in the play-offs.
Grainger left her role abruptly in January 2024 to become the new manager of Norway and Wales replaced her with Canadian Rhian Wilkinson.
After three near-misses to reach tournament finals, Wales finally made it at Wilkinson’s first attempt when they reached the finals of Euro 2025.
They needed to do it via the play-offs, but showed composure and resilience to overcome Slovakia and then the Republic of Ireland over successive two-leg ties.
Both were won 3-2 on aggregate, with Carrie Jones scoring the vital second-goal in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland that saw Wales go through.
Wales were then drawn in the same group as England, France and the Netherlands for the finals in Switzerland, which is scheduled for July 2025.
Wales Women Football Team News
Two More Climbs For Rhian Wilkinson, Then Wales Will Head For The Summit Of European Football
Wales are gearing up for their biggest summer in the history of women’s football in Wales and Rhian Wilkinson has plenty to ponder, reports Ian Mitchelmore.
Ian Mitchelmore | May 21, 2025
Steven Fletcher Rescues Wrexham And Keeps Promotion Dream Rolling
Wrexham are still clinging on in the chase to join the Championship next season, thanks to veteran striker Steven Fletcher.
Gareth James | Mar 05, 2025
Wales Manager Gemma Grainger Backs The Use Of VAR . . . As Wales Begin Their World Cup Play-Off Journey
By Paul Jones Head coach Gemma Grainger has welcomed the use of VAR for Wales Women’s World Cup play-off action. Wales host Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff on Thursday, the first of three potential games needed to reach next summer’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand. Switzerland await the winners next Tuesday and, […]
Paul Jones | Oct 06, 2022
Jess Fishlock Hands Gemma Grainger A Fitness Boost . . . As Wales Aim For Another Great Night In The Capital
By David Williams Wales are confident Jess Fishlock will be fit for World Cup play-off action after missing the final qualifying double-header earlier this month. Fishlock, Wales’ most-capped footballer with 134 appearances, has been named in a 26-strong squad for the first of three potential play-off ties against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff on October […]
David Williams | Sep 28, 2022
Rachel Rowe Returns To Wales Squad For The 2022 Pinatar Cup
By Lucy Rees Wales manager, Gemma Grainger has announced a 26-player squad for the 2022 Pinatar Cup – including fit-again Rachel Rowe. Wales are to face Scotland in the opening match of the competition, a tournament they have entered for the first time. Kicking off on Wednesday 16 February, Wales will play three matches in […]
Lucy Rees | Feb 09, 2022
Gemma Grainger’s Wales Reach 200th Milestone Against Toughest Opposition So Far
By Lucy Rees Wales manager Gemma Grainger has warned her players Slovenia could be the dark horses of their World Cup group. Grainger heads into a tougher World Cup qualifying match in Lendava on Friday night after two successful results last month against Kazakhstan and Estonia. However, Slovenia could prove a far more difficult contest […]
Lucy Rees | Oct 22, 2021
Wales’ Captain Sophie Ingle Is “Excited To Get Back” As They Prepare To Take On Slovenia And Estonia
By Lucy Rees Sophie Ingle’s team sit second in the Group I table after two wins over Kazakhstan and Estonia last month, but preparations are well underway as they take on Slovenia on Friday night, in their 200th match and Estonia on Tuesday, hopefully in front of a big crowd. The women’s World Cup qualifying […]
Lucy Rees | Oct 21, 2021
Wales Star Jess Fishlock Says It’s “Heart-breaking” To See The Abuse Aimed At Women Footballers. . .As The FAW and Welsh Government Join Forces To Tackle The Problem
By Tom Prosser Welsh football star Jess Fishlock says “It’s Heart-breaking to see the abuse aimed at female footballers who are playing purely for their love of the game”- this has led to The Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Government joining forces to tackling online hate towards girls and women. “Trying to put someone down because of something they love, is not big, smart or funny,” explains Fishlock, who is Wales’ most capped footballer. “I always say that people should think about how the person receiving the abuse could be affected before sharing and I’m glad to have worked with my Cymru teammates and the FAW to further educate others on what is and isn’t acceptable online.”
Tom Prosser | Oct 19, 2021
Wales Captain Sophie Ingle Says “It’s A Fresh Start For Everyone” As She Talks About The Uplift In The Dressing Room After Victory Over Kazakhstan
By Lucy Rees Gemma Grainger’s Wales team take on Estonia tomorrow night after winning 6-0 against Kazakhstan on Friday, at Parc Y Scarlets. Speaking to the media yesterday, Wales skipper, Sophie Ingle said: “Scoring 6 goals and keeping a clean sheet at International level is really good. “Training was really good today, a good vibe […]
Lucy Rees | Sep 20, 2021
Loren Dykes To Assist In Training Camp As Wales Women Begin Life Without Jayne Ludlow
Wales women will begin life without head coach Jayne Ludlow at a training camp next week. The 26-strong squad will begin preparations at the Vale Resort in Hensol for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Gareth James | Feb 10, 2021
Wales Flier Megan Wynne Takes First Steps Of Road To Recovery
Wales international Megan Wynne has taken the first steps of her recovery from knee surgery after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament. The 27-year-old has revealed she has run for the first time – 14 weeks after the op having suffered the injury in August.
Gareth James | Nov 19, 2020
Talking A Good Game . . . Why Wales Women Are Mastering The Mother Tongue
Language has always been important in sport. Major, multinational football clubs often mean dressing room conversations in different tongues, while national sides bond around something more singular. Wales’ women’s team recently announced many of their players would be brushing up on their Welsh language skills as they seek to gain an even closer understanding with their squad, as Graham Thomas reports. When Angharad James wants make a tactical point to teammate Natasha Harding, it’s not a surprise she talks to her in Welsh. In fact, like every international footballer, James is determined to maximize all advantages and is anxious for more players in the national team to communicate in the language.
Graham Thomas | Oct 10, 2019