Wales women's national football team
Nickname(s) | The Dragons (Welsh: Y Dreigiau) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Football Association of Wales (FAW) | ||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | Gemma Grainger | ||
Captain | Sophie Ingle | ||
Most caps | Jess Fishlock (136) | ||
Top scorer | Helen Ward (44) | ||
FIFA code | WAL | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 29 1 (25 August 2023) | ||
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.
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.
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
15 February 2023 Pinatar Cup | Wales | 1–0 | Philippines | San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain |
19:30 UTC+1 | Green 45+1' (pen.) | Report | Stadium: Pinatar Arena Referee: Lucie Šulcová (Czech Republic) |
18 February 2023 Pinatar Cup | Wales | 0–0 | Iceland | San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain |
19:30 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: Pinatar Arena Referee: Lucie Šulcová (Czech Republic) |
21 February 2023 Pinatar Cup | Scotland | 1–1 | Wales | San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain |
14:05 UTC+1 | Howard 8' | Report | Holland 42' | Stadium: Pinatar Arena Referee: Lucie Šulcová (Czech Republic) |
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 | v | Germany | Swansea |
20:15 | Report | Stadium: Swansea Stadium |
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
- As of 30 March 2023.
Position | Name |
---|---|
Manager | Gemma Grainger |
Assistant coach | Jon Grey |
Goalkeeper coach | Jen Herst |
Head of physical performance | Luke Taylor |
Manager history
- Sylvia Gore (1979–1989)
- 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–)
Players
Current squad
- The following 26 players were named to the squad for the UEFA Women's Nations League matches against Iceland and Germany on 1 and 5 December 2023, respectively.
- Caps and goals updated as of the game against Slovenia on 6 September 2022.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Laura O'Sullivan | 23 August 1991 | 55 | 0 | Cardiff City Ladies | |
GK | Olivia Clark | 30 August 2001 | 8 | 0 | Watford | |
GK | Safia Middleton-Patel | 21 September 2004 | 0 | 0 | Manchester United | |
DF | Sophie Ingle (captain) | 2 September 1991 | 120 | 3 | Chelsea | |
DF | Hayley Ladd | 6 October 1993 | 82 | 2 | Manchester United | |
DF | Rhiannon Roberts | 30 August 1990 | 56 | 2 | Real Betis | |
DF | Gemma Evans | 1 August 1996 | 45 | 1 | Manchester United | |
DF | Ffion Morgan | 11 May 2000 | 19 | 0 | Bristol City | |
DF | Lily Woodham | 3 September 2000 | 10 | 1 | Reading | |
DF | Esther Morgan | 28 August 2002 | 6 | 0 | Heart of Midlothian | |
MF | Jess Fishlock | 14 January 1987 | 134 | 34 | OL Reign | |
MF | Angharad James | 1 June 1994 | 100 | 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | |
MF | Charlie Estcourt | 27 May 1998 | 34 | 3 | Reading | |
MF | Josie Green | 25 April 1993 | 23 | 0 | Leicester City | |
MF | Ceri Holland | 12 December 1997 | 22 | 4 | Liverpool | |
MF | Carrie Jones | 4 September 2003 | 20 | 2 | Bristol City | |
MF | Anna Filbey | 11 October 1999 | 7 | 0 | Crystal Palace | |
MF | Alice Griffiths | 22 January 2001 | 6 | 0 | Southampton | |
MF | Morgan Rogers | 16 July 2002 | 0 | 0 | Billericay Town | |
MF | Ellen Jones | 10 January 2002 | Sunderland | |||
FW | Kayleigh Green | 22 March 1988 | 65 | 16 | Charlton Athletic | |
FW | Rachel Rowe | 13 September 1992 | 49 | 3 | Rangers | |
FW | Elise Hughes | 15 April 2001 | 14 | 0 | Crystal Palace | |
FW | Ella Powell | 1 February 2000 | 3 | 0 | Bristol City | |
FW | Mary McAteer | 2 January 2004 | 0 | 0 | Sunderland | |
FW | Hannah Cain | 11 February 1999 | Leicester City |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Bethan Davies | 17 September 1997 | Sheffield United | 2023 Pinatar Cup | ||
DF | Maria Francis-Jones | 1 April 2003 | 0 | 0 | Burnley | 2023 Pinatar Cup |
MF | Megan Wynne | 21 January 1993 | 19 | 1 | Southampton | v. Denmark, 31 October 2023 |
MF | Josie Longhurst | 24 February 2002 | Reading | v. Denmark, 31 October 2023 | ||
MF | Chloe Williams | 22 December 2000 | 1 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Denmark, 26 September 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 |
FW | Helen Ward | 26 April 1986 | 102 | 44 | Retired | 2023 Pinatar Cup |
Notes:
- PRE = Preliminary squad
Captains
- Jayne Ludlow (−2012)
- Jess Fishlock (2012–2015)
- 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)
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.
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 |