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 (136) | ||
Top scorer | Helen Ward (44) | ||
FIFA code | WAL | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 32 (15 March 2024)[1] | ||
Highest | 29[2] (June–December 2018; August 2023) | ||
Lowest | 57[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 | |||
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 (148 years ago) (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.[3]
All of Welsh women's football clubs play in the Welsh women's football league system.[4] 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.
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.[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
- 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
6 April Friendly | Wales | 4–1 | Northern Ireland | Cardiff |
19:15 UTC±0 | Fishlock 16' James 25' Cain 30' Rowe 64' | Report | Wade 73' | Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 6,831 Referee: Stacey Pearson |
11 April Friendly | Portugal | 1–1 | Wales | Guimarães, Portugal |
19:15 UTC+1 | Telma 50' | Report | Rowe 73' | Stadium: Estádio D. Afonso Henriques Attendance: 11,055 Referee: Deborah Anex |
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, Wales |
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 |
5 December 2023–24 Nations League | Wales | 0–0 | Germany | Swansea |
20:15 | Report | Stadium: Swansea Stadium |
2024
27 February Friendly | Republic of Ireland | 0–2 | Wales | Dublin |
19:30 GMT | Stadium: Tallaght Stadium |
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
- Sylvia Gore (1979–1989)[6]
- Sue Lopez (1995–1996)
- Roy Thomas (1996–2000)[7][8]
- Sian Williams (2000–2003)
- Andy Beattie (2003–2007)
- Adrian Tucker (2007–2010)[9]
- Jarmo Matikainen (2010–2014)[10][11]
- Jayne Ludlow (2014–2021)[12][13]
- Gemma Grainger (2021–2024)[14]
- Rhian Wilkinson (2024–)[15]
Players
Current squad
- The following players were named to the squad for two international friendly matches against Republic of Ireland on 27 February 2024, respectively.[16]
- Caps and goals updated as of the game against Slovenia on 6 September 2022.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1GK | Laura O'Sullivan | (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 32) | 55 | 0 | Cardiff City Ladies | |
1GK | Olivia Clark | (2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 (age 22) | 8 | 0 | Watford | |
1GK | Safia Middleton-Patel | (2004-09-21) 21 September 2004 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Manchester United | |
2DF | Rhiannon Roberts | (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 (age 33) | 56 | 2 | Real Betis | |
2DF | Hayley Ladd | (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 30) | 82 | 2 | Manchester United | |
2DF | Gemma Evans | (1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 (age 27) | 45 | 1 | Manchester United | |
2DF | Lily Woodham | (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 23) | 10 | 1 | Reading | |
2DF | Sophie Ingle (captain) | (1991-09-02) 2 September 1991 (age 32) | 120 | 3 | Chelsea | |
2DF | Ffion Morgan | (2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 23) | 19 | 0 | Bristol City | |
3MF | Josie Green | (1993-04-25) 25 April 1993 (age 30) | 23 | 0 | Leicester City | |
3MF | Charlie Estcourt | (1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 (age 25) | 34 | 3 | Reading | |
3MF | Alice Griffiths | (2001-01-22) 22 January 2001 (age 23) | 6 | 0 | Southampton | |
3MF | Angharad James | (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 (age 29) | 100 | 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | |
3MF | Jess Fishlock | (1987-01-14) 14 January 1987 (age 37) | 134 | 34 | Seattle Reign FC | |
3MF | Ceri Holland | (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 26) | 22 | 4 | Liverpool | |
3MF | Carrie Jones | (2003-09-04) 4 September 2003 (age 20) | 20 | 2 | Bristol City | |
4FW | Ella Powell | (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 24) | 3 | 0 | Bristol City | |
4FW | Rachel Rowe | (1992-09-13) 13 September 1992 (age 31) | 49 | 3 | Rangers | |
4FW | Kayleigh Green | (1988-03-22) 22 March 1988 (age 36) | 65 | 16 | Charlton Athletic | |
4FW | Elise Hughes | (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 22) | 14 | 0 | Crystal Palace | |
4FW | Mary McAteer | (2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Sunderland | |
Lois Joel | London City Lionesses | |||||
Tegan Mcgowan | Charlton Athletic | |||||
Tianna Teisar | (Bristol City – dual signed Cardiff City Ladies | |||||
Olivia Francis | Manchester United | |||||
Mayzee Davies | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | Esther Morgan | (2002-08-28) 28 August 2002 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | Heart of Midlothian | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
MF | Megan Wynne | (1993-01-21) 21 January 1993 (age 31) | 19 | 1 | Southampton | v. Denmark, 31 October 2023 |
MF | Josie Longhurst | (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 22) | Reading | v. Denmark, 31 October 2023 | ||
MF | Chloe Williams | (2000-12-22) 22 December 2000 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Denmark, 26 September 2023 |
MF | Anna Filbey | (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 24) | 7 | 0 | Crystal Palace | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
MF | Morgan Rogers | (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Billericay Town | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
MF | Ellen Jones | (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 22) | Sunderland | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 | ||
FW | Lauren Thomas | (2000-01-10) 10 January 2000 (age 24) | 0 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Denmark, 26 September 2023 |
FW | Georgia Walters | (1993-04-06) 6 April 1993 (age 30) | 5 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Portugal, 11 April 2023 |
FW | Hannah Cain | (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 25) | Leicester City | v. Germany, 5 December 2023 |
Notes:
- PRE = Preliminary squad
Captains
- Jayne Ludlow (−2012)
- Jess Fishlock (2012–2015)[17]
- Sophie Ingle (2015–)
Records
- *Active players in bold, statistics correct as of September 2022.
Most capped players
| Top goalscorers
|
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 | 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 |
- *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 | |
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 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.
European Competition for Women's Football (Unofficial)
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 | |||||||
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 |
Other tournaments
Year | Result | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Pinatar Cup | Runner-up | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
See also
- Sport in Wales
- List of Wales women's international footballers
- Wales women's national under-17 football team
- Wales national football team
- Wales national football team, the men's team
Notes
References
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Wales". FIFA. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
- ^ "Women's World Cup play-off: Wales hearts broken by extra-time Switzerland winner". BBC. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "MAJOR RESTRUCTURE FOR WOMEN'S GAME IN WALES". FAW. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ "A new identity for football in Wales". faw.cymru. Football Association of Wales. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "'For Them' – Where 200 games began for Cymru women". Football Association of Wales. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "North Wales women's football greats: No 3 – Ceryl Tindall-Jones". February 8, 2021.
- ^ "Internationale wedstrijden – KBVB". static.belgianfootball.be.
- ^ "Keeper coach Tucker joins Swans". BBC Sport. 15 July 2009.
- ^ Leighton, Tony (4 October 2010). "New Wales coach Jarmo Matikainen sets sights on Euro 2013 qualification". The Guardian.
- ^ "Wales Women lose manager Jarmo Matikainen". BBC Sport. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "National Women's Teams Manager – Jayne Ludow". Football Association of Wales. 2 October 2014.
- ^ "Jayne Ludlow: Wales manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Gemma Grainger: Wales appoint new manager to succeed Jayne Ludlow". BBC Sport. 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Rhian Wilkinson: Former Canada defender named Wales head coach". BBC Sport. 26 February 2024.
- ^ Harries, Owain (February 15, 2024). "Cymru squad announced to face Republic of Ireland".
- ^ Pitman, Mark (20 February 2015). "Ingle ready to lead Wales". UEFA. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "LOREN DYKES RETIRES FROM PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL". FA Wales. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ Erik Garvin. "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
External links
- Official website
- FIFA profile
- v
- t
- e
- Home venues
- Cardiff City Stadium
- Aberdare Athletic Ground
- Anfield
- Millennium Stadium
- Ninian Park
- Old Racecourse Ground
- Parc y Scarlets
- Penrhyn Park
- Racecourse Ground
- St. Helen's
- Swansea.com Stadium
- The Arms Park
- The National Stadium
- The Oval
- Vetch Field
- 1876–1899
- 1900–1914
- 1920–1939
- 1946–1959
- 1960–1979
- 1980–1999
- 2000–2019
- 2020–present
- Unofficial matches
- Matches v Home Nations
- 25+ caps
- World Cup & Euro Championship squads
- Born outside Wales
- Other categories
- British Home Championship (1884–1984)
- 2011 Nations Cup
- First international match (Scotland v Wales) (1876)
- 1958 World Cup play-off (1958)
- 1986 World Cup qualifier (death of Jock Stein) (1985)
- The Barry Horns
- When Pelé Broke Our Hearts
- "Together Stronger (C'mon Wales)"