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 (1876).
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.
Contents
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.
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.
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.
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
Loss
Fixture
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
As of 20 March 2026.
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 matches against Montenegro and Czech Republic on 5 and 9 June 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.
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
As of 9 June 2026
Players in bold are still active with the national team.
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
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's Championship
Wales at the UEFA Women's Championship
*Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.
1979 : Group Stage
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.
Head to head record
P – Played; W – Won; D – Drawn; L – Lost
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
Up to date as of 8 June 2026