Women's World Cup qualifying: Wales give themselves hope of reaching Brazil 2027

Wales' bid to reach Brazil 2027 now hinges on a refreshed squad after a historic Euro 2025 breakthrough. The qualifying campaign has been framed by the loss of inspirational captain Sophie Fishlock, who retired in October, and the farewell of Kayleigh Barton, who earned 89 caps and 22 goals for her country. Head coach Wilkinson has faced a challenging transition, acknowledging that the post-Euro 2025 period can either derail performance or illuminate new strengths. Wales closed the group phase with a Czech Republic win that underscored how far the team has come, while eyes turn to the looming playoff draw that will determine their path to the tournament. Hannah Cain has become Wales' key attacking threat by scoring six group-phase goals, a tally matched by only two European players. Youth has stepped forward as well, with 19-year-old Mared Griffiths contributing three goals in the group to reach four in 10 caps, and Carrie Jones reaching 50 caps at the age of 22 while captaining the side for the first time. Midfield strength appears to be growing, with Laura Hughes showing signs in the most recent camp that she could have a significant role to play alongside established stars like Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, while the return of 19-year-old Mayzee Davies from a year out with injury is another significant plus. The challenge now is translating that momentum into playoff success.