Cymru will bring a record-breaking year to a close in Spain as Rhian Wilkinson’s side prepare to take on Korea Republic and Switzerland in two international challenge matches.
This year will be remembered for the side reaching their first-ever major tournament as they competed at EURO 2025, but they remain without a win throughout the calendar year heading into these final two games.
“It has been a year with one of the greatest highs which is obviously the EURO campaign,” explained Wilkinson at the recent squad announcement. “But equally, when you’re in Nations League A, when you’re at the EURO, when I’m trying to always play the best opposition, it’s tough.”
Cymru will bring the year to a close by taking on Korea Republic for the first time on Friday 28 November (KO 6pm GMT) at the Malaga Football Foundation, before meeting Switzerland on Tuesday 2 December at the Estadio Municipal de Chapín in Jerez (KO 11am GMT). Both games will be streamed live by BBC Wales.
Cymru then return to competitive action in February when they open their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign “I’m looking forward to two more opportunities to play against top teams,” said Wilkinson. “To challenge ourselves and get ourselves ready for next year for what will be important games.
“I purposely made our schedule very difficult, but it is a balance. We’re playing at the highest level, and we want to win. There’s something about our confidence that we’ve got to keep high going into next year’s qualifiers. So, we have two more challenging games, and there’s a performance level that I just expect now.”
Cymru suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Australia in Cardiff last month in what was Jess Fishlock’s final match for the national team. There were plenty of positives for Wilkinson despite the loss, but a few days later, a 5-2 reverse against Poland in Newport highlighted a number of concerns.
“We know we’re bringing through a really young generation,” Wilkinson explained. “They need to be delivering to this standard every single time, no matter who they play. I do think the next two opposition will be really great challenges for that and will be a nice way to end the year with two strong performances.
“I felt like against Australia we showed a lot of who we are. And then a few days later we were just not able to do the same thing. I thought we gave up the ball much too easily. I thought we rushed things and we were very one-dimensional.
“I do think we had moments where we played better than my initial reaction. So, we’ve reviewed it a lot, and I think it was an important game for the players because I was annoyed. They don’t see me annoyed that often. But equally for the staff, I don’t think we were at our best either.”
Wilkinson welcomes back some more experience this month with Ella Powell, Rhiannon Roberts, Lily Woodham, Rachel Rowe and Esther Morgan all returning from injury. There are also five uncapped names in the 26-player squad, including Plymouth Argyle duo Phoebe Poole and Olivia Francis, who have progressed from the Genero Adran Premier.
“I want to be really clear about the Adran Premier,” added Wilkinson. “I think it is such an important piece of the footballing landscape in Wales. I’m a huge supporter of it and I think to have a country where women can play to the highest possible level is really important.
“What is great is that young players, or players with potential, are coming through that league and then moving on to the next stage where they can be invited to the national team. They’ve both earned it, and I’m looking forward to having them come in as training players and to show me what they can give.”
Another new name is Melbourne City’s Laura Hughes, and the 24-year-old midfielder already has a senior international cap for Australia. “She’s a really exciting player,” explained Wilkinson. “We’ve had our eye on her for a little while and had some good communication.
“I think she’s a midfielder who can really bring a bit of bite and she’s got some great vision on the ball as well. I’m looking forward to integrating her and giving her this opportunity to show what she can give us.
“She’s made a commitment. I gave her the option to come in and just meet the team and be a training player and she said – ‘Nope, I want to play for Wales.’ So, the paperwork is being done and it is, from my side, always a trial because you don’t just walk into the national team.
“But she’s made the decision to fully commit to Wales no matter what. We’ve talked about broadening the net and bringing pathway players in and just making sure we’re seeing everyone. At the same time, we can’t lose sight of the fact that to play for this country and to wear this badge is the privilege of a lifetime.
“No matter where a player might have been born, if they don’t feel that, then they won’t be part of this team. Her making that commitment from the start with no guarantees that she will make the team I think goes a long way to demonstrate who she is, but also, how important she feels being Welsh is to the group.
“I like that messaging. I think it was brave of her, courageous, but equally I think that’s what we need on this team.”
