Wales guarantees chance of qualifying for Women's World Cup

Wales have begun their journey towards the 2027 Women's World Cup with coach Rhian Wilkinson suggesting the 2029 European Championship could be a more realistic target. However, Wales managed to put themselves in the best position to secure a place at the World Cup, finishing at the top of their qualifying group. Wilkinson's side excelled by remaining unbeaten, and in the decisive match against the Czech Republic in Cardiff they delivered their best performance of the campaign, securing a 3-1 victory. "We knew the pressure was on, it was a game we needed to win," said Liverpool midfielder Ceri Holland, one of the most influential players in the post-Jess Fishlock era. "It was a fantastic performance. Now we're looking forward to the playoff draw."

This qualifying campaign saw Wales shine again, especially after making history by reaching Euro 2025, the first major women's tournament in the country's history. However, the team has faced challenges with the retirement of key players such as Fishlock, who ended her international career last year. Striker Kayleigh Barton, with 89 selections and 22 goals, also said goodbye, leaving coach Wilkinson with the task of filling those gaps. "The transition years can go either way," commented Wilkinson after the victory over the Czech Republic. "It can be an excuse not to perform, but it can also be the reason to discover something new."

Hannah Cain emerged as Wales' main goal threat, scoring six goals in the group stage, a performance that put her among the best in Europe. His progress is remarkable given that he only had five international goals before this campaign. Other players, such as young Mared Griffiths, also showed their value, with three goals in just ten appearances for the national team. In midfield, Laura Hughes has shown she can play a significant role alongside stars such as Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, while Carrie Jones, who has made 50 international appearances at the age of 22, continues to impress.


The return of defender Mayzee Davies, another 19-year-old, after a year out injured, is a huge positive for Wales at the end of the group stage. "We lost important characters, good players [after Euro 2025]," Holland said. "We had great players in the previous campaign, but we still have a lot of talent and great youth coming through."

One of Wales' main challenges during qualification was their performance away from home. After a life-saving draw in the Czech Republic in March, the team recorded a narrow 1-0 victory in Albania and a shock draw in Montenegro last Friday. That last result was particularly frustrating considering the team's plane was struck by lightning en route to Pogdorica, forcing an unexpected detour for a night in Italy. However, securing victory against the Czech Republic was crucial.

By finishing first, Wales ensured a more favorable path to the playoffs, but they will still have challenges ahead to guarantee their first participation in the World Cup. The draw for the playoffs will take place on June 18, and Wales will face a team that finished second orthird place in a League B group in the semi-final, knowing that the second game will be at home. However, if they progress, they will likely face an A League team in the final, where the second game will be away from home. And even if they manage to win there, they may still need more to secure their place, as the lowest-ranked team of the eight European playoff winners will enter the inter-confederation playoffs early next year, and there is a good chance that Wales will be that team. As Football Association of Wales (FAW) CEO Noel Mooney said in a recent interview with BBC Sport Wales, the qualification process is "complicated". Mooney said Wales have their sights set on Euro 2029 in Germany, justifying Wilkinson's contract extension for a further two years last month, but that doesn't mean they are ruling out the World Cup. "It's going to be difficult to get to the World Cup, but we're clearly aiming for it," he said. To force their way into the playoffs, Wales will need more consistency than they showed in the group stage. Wilkinson believes the team can compete "on our best days" but there will be little room for error when they return to the pitch in October. For now, the prospect of a World Cup debut is within Wales' reach. "The World Cup is the dream you have when you're a little girl," Holland said. "But that's still a long way off. We're on the right path and it's about taking it one step at a time."