Welsh football fans are having an absolute ball after the women's team made history by qualifying for UEFA Women's Euro 2025.
Wales needed to beat the Republic of Ireland in a play-off match to secure a spot at the 16-team international tournament, and the Welsh team kept fans on their toes right until the last kick of the game.
Wales took a commanding lead in the crunch tie thanks to a converted penalty from Hannah Cain, followed by a 67-minute strike by substitute Carrie Jones. However, a goal for Ireland late in the second half made for a nervy climax to the match, with Wales managing to hold on and end the game as 2-1 winners.
The result means Wales will be in the draw for Euro 2025, which will be held in Switzerland next summer, and marks the first time the Welsh women’s national football team has qualified for an international tournament, following years of excruciating near-misses and what-if moments.
Given the significance of the occasion, there were scenes of jubilation at the final whistle, with players, fans and coaching staff dancing around the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Speaking after the game, Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson said, ‘This team found a way. They never broke for each other, they stayed strong. I've never been prouder of a team.’
‘This team stands on the shoulders of giants [the pioneering female footballers] who came before, and now they've proven how good they are,’ she added.
Former Welsh captain, Laura McAllister, who said she was feeling “incredibly emotional” after the match, had previously shared her view as part of a Welsh football-themed BBC radio documentary that a successful qualification for Euro 2025 could take the women’s game to new heights in Wales.
‘Seeing Wales on the world stage, seeing our players line up for the anthem, our flag – these are things that you just can't quite get your head around until they happen,’ said McAllister, who is now a vice-president of UEFA.
‘Once that genie is out of the bottle I think women's football in Wales will go to stratospheric heights,’ she added.
Euro 2025 will take place in Switzerland from 2 to 27 July. Games will be split between eight stadiums in eight different towns and cities. Tickets are available to purchase now via the official ticketing website.
All we can say is, roll on the summer!
Learn more about the history of football in Wales, or get more insights from Laura McAllister on the important role football can play in showcasing Wales to the world.