Wales women make history and qualify for EURO 2025

Wales’ women’s football team have qualified for a major tournament for the first time in history.

Play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday December 3 means Wales have booked their place at next summer’s European championships in Switzerland.

Goals from Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones gave Wales a 2-1 victory in their second-leg play-off tie, and a 3-2 aggregate win following a 1-1 draw in Cardiff last week.

Rhian Wilkinson’s side are one of 16 nations competing at next summer’s tournament, and will discover who their group stage opponents will be when the draw is made on December 16.

Wilkinson, who was appointed manager in February, praised her “special team” and staff in an interview with BBC Sport after the game and said: “This team found a way. They never broke for each other, they stayed strong. I’ve never been prouder of a team.”

She continued: “This team stands on the shoulders of giants who came before, and now they’ve proven how good they are.

“They’re better than they think and they just have to see it and live it and experience it.

“Those boys and girls back home are seeing a generation of football that’s going to change everything.”

Match report

Report courtesy of the FAW

Cymru have made history in Dublin. Let the heartbreaks of the past be forgotten as tears of joy replace the pain of previous failures.

Cymru are heading to Switzerland next summer and will be one of the 16 nations competing at EURO 2025. Following the 1-1 draw in Cardiff, this would be the day of destiny. Winner takes all, Cymru put their bodies on the line and delivered the long-awaited success this team has craved.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson made two changes to the starting lineup as Josie Green and Hannah Cain replaced Ceri Holland and Ffion Morgan, and it was clear from the start that Green would be tasked with keeping a close watch on Ireland captain Katie McCabe. A physical battle between the two left McCabe frustrated and booked after just 17 minutes.

The first leg in Cardiff was a physical encounter and that theme continued in Dublin with a string of hard but fair challenges. As the game settled down the chances followed and it was Denise O’Sullivan who had the best opportunity of the half when her effort beat Olivia Clark but struck the crossbar at the midway point. Clark would then deny Kyra Carusa.

Cymru would also have their chances and it was Lily Woodham, goalscorer in the first leg, who saw her free-kick saved by goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan. From the resulting corner, Brosnan then had to be at her best to prevent Rhiannon Roberts from opening the scoring as she turned her low shot wide of the post. However, it was Niamh Fahey who almost put Ireland ahead just before half-time but her fine strike went narrowly wide.

The game would turn within minutes of the restart as a VAR review adjudged that Anna Patten had handled the ball and Cymru were awarded a penalty. Hannah Cain stepped-up and made no mistake. Ireland were visibly rattled and switched gears as they pressured the Cymru defence, but there were opportunities on the counter-attack and Cain almost added a second on 55 minutes, but she couldn’t reach a cross from Rachel Rowe.

Angharad James could have extended the lead but Brosnan prevented the Cymru captain, and a hamstring injury to Jess Fishlock saw her replaced to boost Ireland’s chances. However, Cymru would double the lead on 67 minutes when substitute Carrie Jones latched onto a through ball from Lily Woodham and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 

After waves of pressure, Ireland finally pulled a goal back on 86 minutes as Patten headed home a McCabe corner, but it was Rhiannon Roberts who would be the hero for Cymru in added time as she made two huge defensive blocks to deny Leanne Kiernan and Denise O’Sullivan. It would prove to be enough to get Cymru over the line, and with it, make history.

Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones have etched their names in Welsh football folklore as their goals made the difference on the night, but it’s the previous coaches and the hundreds of players who have worn the shirt leading up to this moment who will celebrate tonight. Every single individual has played their part along the way, but it’s this team’s success that will take women’s football in Wales to a completely different level now.