Wales women's national football team

Women's association football team representing Wales
Wales
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau)
AssociationFootball Association of Wales (FAW)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachRhian Wilkinson
CaptainSophie Ingle
Most capsJess Fishlock (136)
Top scorerHelen Ward (44)
FIFA codeWAL
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 32 Steady (15 March 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 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.

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

Wales  v  Northern Ireland
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
Portugal  v  Wales
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
United States  v  Wales
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)
Iceland  v  Wales
22 September 2023–24 UEFA Nations League Iceland  1–0  Wales Reykjavík
20:00 (18:00 WET) Report Stadium: Laugardalsvöllur,
Referee: Katalin Kulcsár (Hungary)
Wales  v  Denmark
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)
Germany  v  Wales
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)
Denmark  v  Wales
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)
Wales  v  Iceland
1 December 2023–24 Nations League Wales  1–2  Iceland
Wales  v  Germany
5 December 2023–24 Nations League Wales  0–0  Germany Swansea
20:15 Report Stadium: Swansea Stadium

2024

Republic of Ireland  v  Wales
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 Canada Rhian Wilkinson
Assistant coach Wales John Grey
Goalkeeping coach England Jen Herst
Head of physical performance England Luke Taylor

Manager history

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 Wales Cardiff City Ladies
1GK Olivia Clark (2001-08-30) 30 August 2001 (age 22) 8 0 England Watford
1GK Safia Middleton-Patel (2004-09-21) 21 September 2004 (age 19) 0 0 England Manchester United

2DF Rhiannon Roberts (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 (age 33) 56 2 Spain Real Betis
2DF Hayley Ladd (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 30) 82 2 England Manchester United
2DF Gemma Evans (1996-08-01) 1 August 1996 (age 27) 45 1 England Manchester United
2DF Lily Woodham (2000-09-03) 3 September 2000 (age 23) 10 1 England Reading
2DF Sophie Ingle (captain) (1991-09-02) 2 September 1991 (age 32) 120 3 England Chelsea
2DF Ffion Morgan (2000-05-11) 11 May 2000 (age 23) 19 0 England Bristol City

3MF Josie Green (1993-04-25) 25 April 1993 (age 30) 23 0 England Leicester City
3MF Charlie Estcourt (1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 (age 25) 34 3 England Reading
3MF Alice Griffiths (2001-01-22) 22 January 2001 (age 23) 6 0 England Southampton
3MF Angharad James (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 (age 29) 100 4 England Tottenham Hotspur
3MF Jess Fishlock (1987-01-14) 14 January 1987 (age 37) 134 34 United States Seattle Reign FC
3MF Ceri Holland (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 26) 22 4 England Liverpool
3MF Carrie Jones (2003-09-04) 4 September 2003 (age 20) 20 2 England Bristol City

4FW Ella Powell (2000-02-01) 1 February 2000 (age 24) 3 0 England Bristol City
4FW Rachel Rowe (1992-09-13) 13 September 1992 (age 31) 49 3 Scotland Rangers
4FW Kayleigh Green (1988-03-22) 22 March 1988 (age 36) 65 16 England Charlton Athletic
4FW Elise Hughes (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 22) 14 0 England Crystal Palace
4FW Mary McAteer (2004-01-02) 2 January 2004 (age 20) 0 0 England Sunderland

Lois Joel England London City Lionesses
Tegan Mcgowan Charlton Athletic
Tianna Teisar (Bristol City – dual signed Cardiff City Ladies
Olivia Francis England Manchester United
Mayzee Davies England 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 Scotland Heart of Midlothian v.  Germany, 5 December 2023

MF Megan Wynne (1993-01-21) 21 January 1993 (age 31) 19 1 England Southampton v.  Denmark, 31 October 2023
MF Josie Longhurst (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 22) England Reading v.  Denmark, 31 October 2023
MF Chloe Williams (2000-12-22) 22 December 2000 (age 23) 1 0 England Blackburn Rovers v.  Denmark, 26 September 2023
MF Anna Filbey (1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 24) 7 0 England Crystal Palace v.  Germany, 5 December 2023
MF Morgan Rogers (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 21) 0 0 England Billericay Town v.  Germany, 5 December 2023
MF Ellen Jones (2002-01-10) 10 January 2002 (age 22) England Sunderland v.  Germany, 5 December 2023

FW Lauren Thomas (2000-01-10) 10 January 2000 (age 24) 0 0 England Blackburn Rovers v.  Denmark, 26 September 2023
FW Georgia Walters (1993-04-06) 6 April 1993 (age 30) 5 0 England Blackburn Rovers v.  Portugal, 11 April 2023
FW Hannah Cain (1999-02-11) 11 February 1999 (age 25) England Leicester City v.  Germany, 5 December 2023

Notes:

  • PRE = Preliminary squad

Captains

Records

  • *Active players in bold, statistics correct as of September 2022.

Most capped players

# Player Year(s) Caps
1 Jess Fishlock 2006– 134
2 Sophie Ingle 2009– 120
3 Loren Dykes 2007–2021[18] 105
4 Tash Harding 2008– 103
5 Helen Ward 2008– 102
6 Angharad James 2011– 100

Top goalscorers

# Player Year(s) Goals Caps
1 Helen Ward 2008– 44 102

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
China 1991 did not enter UEFA EURO 1991
Sweden 1995 did not qualify UEFA EURO 1995
United States 1999 6 0 2 4 7 21
United States 2003 6 0 1 5 2 13
China 2007 6 4 2 0 17 2
Germany 2011 8 3 0 5 23 16
Canada 2015 10 6 1 3 18 9
France 2019 8 5 2 1 7 4
AustraliaNew Zealand 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
EnglandItalyNorwaySweden 1984 did not enter did not enter
Norway 1987
West Germany 1989
Denmark 1991
Italy 1993
EnglandGermanyNorwaySweden 1995 did not qualify 6 0 0 6 5 36
NorwaySweden 1997 8 2 1 5 9 15
Germany 2001 6 0 2 4 3 16
England 2005 Withdrew Withdrew
Finland 2009 did not qualify 11 3 0 8 11 21
Sweden 2013 8 3 1 4 12 14
Netherlands 2017 8 3 2 3 13 11
England 2022 8 4 2 2 16 4
Switzerland 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)

1979 : Group Stage[19]

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.

Portugal 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

Notes

References

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "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 (February 15, 2024). "Cymru squad announced to face Republic of Ireland".
  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. ^ Erik Garvin. "Inofficial European Women Championship 1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 2009-08-27.

External links

  • Official website
  • FIFA profile
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