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
Happy Ludlow Says Wales Can Make Euro Finals
Jayne Ludlow insists Wales women can still qualify for the Euro 2017 finals after a convincing victory over Kazakhstan. The manager saw her team win 4-0 in Shymkent on Tuesday to stay third in Group H, five points behind joint leaders Austria and Norway.
Graham Thomas | Apr 12, 2016
Wales Out, But Ludlow Praises Progress
Jayne Ludlow insists Wales women are making progress despite seeing their hopes of qualifying for next year’s European Championship finals ended by Norway. Wales lost 2-0 at Newport on Tuesday night and although they still have two games remaining, they are now nine points behind group leaders Austria and the Norwegians.
Graham Thomas | Jun 08, 2016
Ludlow Calls For Wales To Move On
Wales women’s manager Jayne Ludlow is looking for progress from her team in this month’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland. Ludlow has named a squad of 21 for the fixture at Newport’s Rodney Parade on August 19.
Graham Thomas | Aug 04, 2016
Wales Women Get Cyprus Cup Campaign Off To Dream Start
Wales Women 2 Hungary Women 0Helen Ward and Charlie Estcourt struck as Wales got their Cyprus Cup campaign off to a flying start with victory over Hungary.
Ian Gordon | Mar 01, 2017
Wales Maintain Unbeaten Cyprus Cup Record After Czech Stalemate
Wales 0 Czech Republic 0 Wales maintained their unbeaten record at the Cyprus Women’s Cup after a goal-less draw with the Czech Republic in an entertaining game. Jayne Ludlow’s side had plenty of chances at the Tasos Marko Stadium through Kayleigh Green and Natasha Harding.
Ian Gordon | Mar 03, 2017
Jayne Ludlow Says Dutch Destruction Will Improve Wales' World Cup Resolve
Jayne Ludlow insists her Wales team will be a tough nut to crack in their forthcoming World Cup campaign – despite their thrashing by the Netherlands. The Wales women were taught a harsh lesson in Rotterdam at the weekend as the Dutch warmed-up for the European Championships with a 5-0 romp. Wales arrived buoyed by a 2-1 win over European Championship finalists Portugal last month, but with four regular starters missing from their line-up it was always going to be a difficult task.
Graham Thomas | Jul 10, 2017
Wales Plan To Get Every Women In Squad A Full-Time Gig, Says Jayne Ludlow
Wales are off and running in their quest to reach the Women’s World Cup finals, thanks to Jess Fishlock’s brilliant winner against Kazakhstan. Manager Jayne Ludlow says they now have the Russians in their sights. http:// Wales Women got their #FIFAWWC qualifying campaign off to the perfect start yesterday in Astana! 👏 pic.twitter.com/25gjcuDrRK — Wales […]
Graham Thomas | Sep 20, 2017
Jayne Ludlow Praises Wales After Russian Mission Boosts World Cup Campaign
Wales Women had a late penalty claim waved away to deny them the chance of picking up an historic win over Russia in St Petersburg, where they drew 0-0 on Tuesday. A magnificent defensive display, superbly marshalled by Wales skipper Sophie Ingle, kept the visitors in the contest in difficult conditions and when Kayleigh Green went down under a challenge from the Russian goalkeeper Tatyana Scherbak in stoppage time it was Welsh fans who thought they would get a shot at winning the game. But the referee, Vesna Budimir, waved away the appeals for a penalty and the game ended in a goalless draw.
Graham Thomas | Oct 25, 2017
Wales Women Aim For Record Home Attendance In Cardiff
Wales expect record attendance of 4,000-plus for their Women’s World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Cardiff City Stadium this evening (7pm). Wales are top of their group having drawn in Russia and won in Kazakhstan, keeping clean sheets in both matches. Their return fixture against Kazakhstan looks certain to beat Wales’ highest attendance of 3,581, […]
Terry Phillips | Nov 24, 2017
Hayley Fires Welsh World Cup Winner In Home Clash
Hayley Ladd struck gold for Wales women in their World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Cardiff City Stadium. Ladd, who plays for Birmingham City, scored the winner from a free-kick after 83 minutes. Wales, unbeaten and top of their group after three matches, dominated the match against a Kazakhstan team who were hanging on for […]
Terry Phillips | Nov 25, 2017
Kayleigh’s Cracker Wins World Cup Clash For Wales
Kayleigh Green scored Wales’ winner to extend their unbeaten record in World Women’s Cup. Their 1-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica means Wales stay top of Group One with three wins and a draw in four games. Yeovil Town forward Green, a former Cardiff City player, scored the only goal after 58 minutes, […]
Terry Phillips | Nov 28, 2017
Toughest Test Ahead For Proud Wales In World Cup
Wales have their toughest test to come in the Women’s World Cup qualifying rounds. Manager Jayne Ludlow and her Welsh team are unbeaten, have yet to concede a goal after four matches and stand top of their group, one point ahead of England. The rivals clash in their next fixture at Southampton during April and […]
Terry Phillips | Nov 29, 2017