The table below summarizes key facts about the Wales women’s national football team, including governing body, nickname, coaching staff, and current FIFA ranking.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Wales women’s national football team |
| Welsh Name | Tîm pôl-droed merched cenedlaethol Cymru |
| Governing Body | Football Association of Wales (FAW) |
| Nickname | The Red Dragons / Y Dreigiau Coch |
| Head Coach | Rhian Wilkinson |
| Captain | Cerys Hallett |
| Top Scorer | Helen Ward (46 goals) |
| FIFA Ranking | 22nd |
Wales women football fixtures
Upcoming matches
Wales entered the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying round in Group B1 alongside Czechia, Albania, and Montenegro. The campaign opened with a trip to Czechia on 2026-03-03, followed by a home match against Montenegro on 2026-03-07. The FAW confirmed the full schedule in November 2025, with the group concluding at home against Czechia on 2026-06-09.
The home match against Albania on 2026-04-14 marked the first-ever encounter between the two nations. As part of the qualifying push, the FAW announced that Cymru would tour the country for these fixtures, with matches scheduled in Llanelli, Wrexham, and Cardiff.
What this means: The regional hosting strategy signals ambition to grow the fanbase beyond the capital, though it remains to be seen whether smaller venues can match the infrastructure of established football hubs.
Recent results
Before the World Cup qualifying cycle began, Wales competed in UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 — their first-ever major tournament. Drawn in Group D alongside France, England, and the Netherlands, Wales faced the Netherlands in their opener in Lucerne on 2025-07-05, before meeting France and England in St. Gallen. Wales finished the group stage with zero points, exiting after three defeats.
Prior to Euro 2025, Wales navigated the Nations League campaign in Group A4 (2025-02-21 through 2025-06-03) against Italy, Denmark, and Sweden. The team were subsequently relegated to League B after that cycle concluded. BBC Sport noted that the Nations League group-stage matches were scheduled before the 2025 Women’s Euros, which began on 2025-07-02.
Wales women football team players
Current squad
Under head coach Rhian Wilkinson, Wales have built a squad that combines experienced internationals with emerging talent. The team captain is Cerys Hallett, who anchors the defense. All-time leading scorer Helen Ward (46 goals) brings significant goal-scoring pedigree to the forward line despite the changing nature of the squad following Euro 2025.
Jess Fishlock remains one of the most recognisable figures in Welsh women’s football, with extensive experience at both club and international level. The squad composition continues to evolve as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Key players
Helen Ward’s goal-scoring record of 46 international goals stands as the benchmark for Welsh women’s football. Her leadership and finishing ability remain valuable assets as the team builds toward the next qualifying cycle. Cerys Hallett, as captain, provides defensive stability and organizational qualities in the back line.
Rhian Wilkinson, speaking after the Euro 2025 qualification was confirmed, said: “We are the highest-ranked, and whenever you’re highest-ranked there’s an expectation to win the group.” That mindset helped drive Wales through the qualifying process, though the subsequent tournament showed the gap to Europe’s elite remains significant.
“We are the highest-ranked, and whenever you’re highest-ranked there’s an expectation to win the group.”
— Rhian Wilkinson, Wales head coach (Football Association of Wales)
Wales women football ranking
FIFA ranking history
Wales achieved their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 18th in 2018, during a period of consistent improvement in European women’s football. The team has since fluctuated but remains a solid mid-tier European nation. As of June 2026, Wales sit at 22nd in the FIFA rankings.
The journey to Euro 2025 qualification required Wales to top their League B4 qualifying group (featuring Croatia, Ukraine, and Kosovo) before winning play-off ties against Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland. That achievement demonstrated the team’s ability to perform under pressure in competitive environments.
Current position
With a ranking of 22nd, Wales enter the 2027 World Cup qualifying cycle as the higher-ranked side in Group B1 alongside Czechia, Albania, and Montenegro. However, the Nations League relegation means the team lacks the safety net of a promotion pathway through that competition in the near term.
The implication: Without Nations League promotion as a fallback, Wales must target direct qualification through their World Cup qualifying group — a higher-stakes path with no margin for error.
Wales women football news
Latest updates
The most significant recent development is the confirmation of Wales’ 2027 World Cup qualifying fixtures by the FAW in June 2026. The campaign opened in March 2026, with the team beginning their group-stage journey away to Czechia before returning home to face Montenegro.
Prior to that, Wales concluded their Euro 2025 participation in June 2026, finishing bottom of Group D with zero points after matches against the Netherlands, France, and England. The experience of facing top-tier European opposition at a major tournament provides valuable exposure for the squad, even without advancing to the knockout rounds.
Match reports
Euro 2025 represented a milestone regardless of results. UEFA confirmed that Wales’ Women’s Euro 2025 campaign was their first-ever qualification for a major tournament final stage. The journey through League B qualifying, followed by play-off victories over Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland, marked a historic achievement for Welsh women’s football.
BBC Sport reported that Wales reached Euro 2025 via the play-offs because, as a League B team, their route to the finals ran through that system. The team navigated high-pressure situations effectively, a quality that will be tested again as the 2027 World Cup campaign unfolds.
Wales face a compressed qualifying window with their 2027 World Cup group concluding in June 2026. The experience gained at Euro 2025 — even without advancing — provides a foundation, but the Nations League relegation means fewer competitive fixtures at the highest level in the cycle ahead. For Welsh football fans, the immediate priority is clear: support the team across all three home venues as the campaign unfolds, and track the results against Czechia, Albania, and Montenegro closely. Qualification for a second consecutive major tournament would represent genuine progress for the Red Dragons.
Oliver Whitfield
Editor-in-Chief — Oliver Whitfield leads FootyPediax27s editorial direction and standards. He has a background in sports media, football history research, and digital publishing, with a focus on making football information accurate, accessible, and easy to navigate.