Hannah Cain on fresh start and World Cup challenge 

Hannah Cain has urged her Cymru side to embrace a fresh start as they prepare to begin their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign next week.

Cymru’s road to Brazil begins with an away fixture against Czechia on Tuesday, 3 March (KO 5:30pm GMT), before returning to Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli to face Montenegro on Saturday, 7 March (KO 4:30pm GMT).

“It’s really exciting,” she said. “It’s obviously been a couple of months since the last camp, but all the girls here love being on camp and it’s good to be back. It’s a new year, a new campaign and an exciting future ahead.

“It would be huge to start the qualifying campaign on a positive note and that’s what we want to do. We want to top the group. As forwards, we want to score goals, and as defenders, we want to keep clean sheets. We’ll be looking to do that and win every game, as we always set out to do.

“We finished last year on a high and we want to carry that into the start of this campaign. It would be massive if we could do that. Our goals haven’t changed – we still want to perform at the highest level possible. For us, it’s about taking each step at a time and not getting carried away.”

Cymru recorded just one victory in 2025 – a 3-2 friendly win over Switzerland in December – but the year also saw the team compete in League A of the UEFA Nations League and make their major tournament debut at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.

Despite mixed results, Cain, who has been capped 22 times, believes competing against elite opposition will benefit the squad in the long run.

“I think you can look back at last year in two different ways,” she reflected. “You can look at it purely on results and think it didn’t go well, but on the other hand, the quality of opposition we faced was higher than we’ve probably ever experienced.

“We produced consistently good performances, we just couldn’t quite get the end result in the final moments. In terms of the process and the progress we made over the year, that’s the main thing we need to focus on. We went to the EUROs and played three of the toughest teams in the tournament — that’s exciting and that’s what you want as footballers. I don’t think we’ve ever been in that position before.

“Of course we want to win every game, score goals and be comfortable, but personally I enjoy getting better, and the only way you can do that is by really testing yourselves against top opposition and players.”

After reaching their first major tournament last summer, Cain says the squad’s hunger has only intensified, with a place in Brazil firmly in their sights.

“It would be absolutely incredible,” she admitted. “The journey we’ve been on as a team has led to so much growth and success. Obviously our first major tournament last year was absolutely immense and you never think it’s going to get any better.

“Then once that’s done you’re like OK, what’s next? And then you’re like, amazing, World Cup in Brazil – absolutely, why not? That’s the next step, the next goal, and these big games are part of that journey. We’ll be doing everything we can to achieve it.

“The main thing for us is taking each camp as it comes, while knowing the end goal is a World Cup. These key games move us closer to qualification, so our aim is to top the group, perform at our highest level and get the results we just fell short of last year.”

Cymru legend Jess Fishlock, who retired from international football last year, linked up with the squad earlier this week and will serve as technical assistant coach for the opener against Czechia before returning to Seattle to continue pre-season preparations with her club.

Fishlock earned 166 caps and scored 48 goals for her country, including Cymru’s first-ever goal at a women’s major tournament – becoming the oldest scorer in Women’s EURO finals history.

And Cain, who has played alongside Fishlock since making her debut in 2021, believes her continued involvement will be invaluable.

“She’s part of the furniture. She’s already been huge for us and we don’t want her to go,” Cain said. “If we can have her involved forever in some capacity, that would be massive. She has so much knowledge of the game, and having her there for advice, opinion or coaching will only help us grow. The more players who can think and play like Jess, the better.

“We’re grateful to have her with us at the start of this window. It shows how much Wales means to her. For her to give that to us, we want to give something back.”