Given that women's football was banned in the UK from 1922 to 1970, the game has only developed in Wales in the past half-century.
The country's national team completed a long journey from their first official match against Ireland in 1973 when they made their bow at UEFA Women's Euro 2025.
It took 20 years from that game against Ireland for Wales to become officially affiliated with their country's national football association (FAW). Two years later, their match against Switzerland attracted a crowd of just 345, while they shipped 24 goals across two games against an all-conquering Germany.
Those 1995 escapades give context to an impressive rise. A last-gasp defeat to Switzerland saw Wales miss out on a place at the 2023 World Cup before a record-breaking crowd of 16,845 saw them seal Euro 2025 qualification at Ireland's expense in Cardiff last year.
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Have Wales Women ever played at a major tournament?
Euro 2025 marked Wales' major tournament debut. In their opening match, the competition's lowest-ranked team went down to an accomplished Netherlands side 3-0.
Their remaining group-stage matches will be in St. Gallen, with Wales playing France on Wednesday, July 9, and neighbours England four days later.
Such stiff competition means Rhian Wilkinson's side will have their work cut out. UEFA vice-president and former Wales international Laura McAllister has been vocal in her belief that the participation marks a turning point in Welsh women's football. "Once that genie is out of the bottle [participating in the Euros], I think women's football in Wales will go to stratospheric heights," she told UEFA.com.
To add fuel to the fire, their campaign comes amid the strategy 'Our Wales: For Her', launched by FAW in 2021 to grow women's football. At the time Wales qualified for the Euros, this initiative had already contributed to a 45% uptick in female participation in grassroots football, as well as more than a 250% increase in funding.
This dynamism, coupled with Wales' appearance in the biggest Women's Euros in history, means that this team represents so much more than their scores at full-time: they are trailblazers for gender equality across the sport, across the UK, and across the world. One needs only look at the wall of red at their Euros matches to see what an impact they are having.
Wales Euro 2025 squad in full
The Wales squad was announced on the mystical summit of the Wyddfa in North Wales, overlooking Eryri National Park 1085 metres above sea level — a fitting atmosphere for such a historic moment full of patriotic pride.
Angharad James captains the squad, as one of four centurions selected. This talent pool also includes Jess Fishlock, Wales's most capped player, as well as Hayley Ladd, who has played every minute of every match under coach Wilkinson. Sophie Ingle is back from her ACL injury.
The 2025 squad also boasts Wales' veteran penalty taker, forward Kayleigh Barton, as well as Wilkinson's preferred goalkeeper, Olivia Clark, who proved her mettle during the vital qualification win over Ireland.
Coach Wilkinson is a veteran on the international women's football stage, as a former Canadian defender with 181 caps. Her vast well of experience also includes two bronze Olympic medals and four World Cup campaigns. Despite having only been with Wales for 16 months, her style has seemed to gel well with the team thus far.
Wales Euro 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Poppy Soper, Safia Middleton- Patel, Olivia Clark
Defenders: Charlie Estcourt, Josie Green, Hayley Ladd, Esther Morgan, Ella Powell, Rhiannon Roberts, Lilly Woodham, Gemma Evans
Midfielders: Alice Griffiths, Ceri Holland, Sophie Ingle, Angharad James, Lois Joel, Carrie Jones, Ffion Morgan, Jess Fishlock
Forwards: Kayleigh Barton, Elise Hughes, Rachel Rowe, Hannah Cain.