Milestone for women's and girls' football in Wales

More than 20,000 girls and women are now registered to play football in Wales, marking a major milestone for the Football Association of Wales (FAW).

Over the past three years, participation in the female game has grown by 58% overall, with a particular increase in under 14s-17s players.

The record, initially targeted for 2026, follows an exciting year for the women's national team which reached its first major finals at Euro 2025.

Bethan Woolley, FAW strategic lead for women and girls' football, told BBC Radio Wales: "A lot of hard work, but we got there, it's fantastic news for us to be celebrating.

"When we launched the strategy back in 2021... we had less than 10,000 players.

"We really had to look strategically at how we wanted to achieve this, what was such an ambitious target at the time, and really focusing on what resource our clubs, our leagues needed, and how we can create national programmes that inspire girls and women of all ages from all different backgrounds to take up football."

Wooley said a key focus has been looking at priorities and attitudes to support the growth of female participation, as well as changes to facilities historically built for men.

"We've been doing extensive pieces of research with our partners at the Cymru Football Foundation to invest in facilities to make sure they're appropriate, first and foremost, for women and girls players," she added.

"But also looking at prioritisation within clubs, ensuring that there's a voice that sits on a club committee that is coming from the female lens, understanding the needs and the desires of women and girls to be within those environments."

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney described the milestone "as a hugely proud moment for Welsh football".

"The growth we are witnessing is the result of aligned effort from the commitment of our clubs and volunteers, to the investment we have made in grassroots facilities and participation programmes, to the inspiration provided by our national teams," he said.

Wales has a joint bid to host the 2035 Women's World Cup, something Mooney says they are "determined to build on".

"Our ambition is clear, to make football the most inclusive and accessible sport for women and girls in Wales, and to ensure that the pathway from grassroots to the international stage has never been stronger," he added.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson led Wales women to their first major tournament this summer, Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

She said reaching 20,000 registered players off the back of that was "huge".

"It's only the beginning, this is the first milestone and I'm so excited to have gotten there.

"The growth in the last few years is a testament to these women [her players] but equally to so many at the FAW who were here a long time before me, who've put everything in to make sure that our women are given equal opportunities and this is the first marker of that.

"When we talk about legacy, going to our first Euros, it was hard. We gave it everything but there was a gap... equally what it did back home by putting the women's game on the map was also showing the what ifs, the possibility."

Wales forward Ffion Morgan and midfielder Ceri Holland both won their 50th caps in Wales' 3-2 friendly win over Switzerland on Wednesday.

"As players you do want to leave that legacy," said Morgan.

"We've done it for the players before us and now we've left something for people to look forward to, to strive towards.

"It's always been a goal for us and we've done it, and now that we've had the taste we want to do it even more."

Holland added: "It's really special to see the growth in the women's game back home.

"The amount of young girls now that we're seeing in the stadiums, so many more recognise us and want to go and play football. They tell us they're playing in their local teams, that's incredible for us to hear.

"It's hard in this role sometimes to step back and see the bigger picture because it's so full on, but when you do we're really proud."