Wales Women Squad for World Cup Play-Off Has Two Newcomers

Wales Women Squad for World Cup Play Off Has Two Newcomers
Heidi Hills of Tottenham Hotspur PGA who is one of the two newcomers to the Wales squad Photo by Pete NortonGetty Images

Wales Women head coach Rhian Wilkinson has revealed her squad as her side aims to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.

Wales are potentially four games away from reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil next summer, starting with a two-leg round one play-off against Albania in Shkodër (Friday 9 October) and Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (Tuesday 13 October).

Six uncapped players feature in the squad, including a first time call up for Casi Gregson and Heidi Hills. Mia Ross, Hayley Ladd, Laura Hughes, Olivia Clark, Ceri Holland, Ffion Morgan and Ella Powell are unavailable due to injuries.

Wales head into the play-offs having not lost a game in 2026. During the qualifying campaign so far, Wilkinson’s side have won four games and drawn two, scoring seventeen goals in the process.

Should Wales progress to the play-off final, they will play either Romania or Norway in a two-leg showdown on Tuesday 1 December and Saturday 5 December to determine who qualifies for the World Cup finals.

Tickets for the play-off match against Albania at the Parc y Scarlets on Tuesday 13 October (KO 7:15pm) are available to purchase on the FAW ticketing website, priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children, with discounts available for Red Wall members.

Wales squad: Soffia Kelly (Aston Villa), Safia Middleton-Patel (Watford – on loan from Manchester United), Poppy Soper (Sheffield United), Hannah Cain (Everton), Mayzee Davies (Manchester City), Charlie Estcourt (Fulham), Gemma Evans (Newcastle United), Olivia Francis (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Casi Gregson (Newcastle United), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United), Scarlett Hill (Manchester United), Elise Hughes (Sunderland), Sophie Ingle (Bristol City), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Esther Morgan (Bristol City), Mary McAteer (Ipswich Town – on loan from Charlton Athletic), Phoebie Poole (Watford), Tianna Teisar (Watford), Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland), Rachel Rowe (Nottingham Forest), Lily Woodham (Liverpool), Heidi Hills (Tottenham Hotspur), and Cadi Rodgers (Plymouth Argyle).

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