Wales Women learn Euro 2025 qualifier opponents as team backed to 'beat any country'

Wales have learned they will face Croatia, Ukraine and Kosovo in their bid to qualify for the 2025 Women's Euros.

Rhian Wilkinson's side will be bidding to reach their first major women's football tournament, having come agonisingly close to qualifying for the last World Cup.

The Euro qualifiers will be played between April and July, with the teams playing each other home and away.

As a League B nation, Wales' journey to the finals has to be via the play-offs, with 28 countries competing for the final seven Euro 2025 spots late this year.

As well as kicking off their qualification campaign, it will also be Wilkinson's first game in charge of the team, having been appointed to the role little more than a week ago.

Wilkinson, who played for Canada 183 times and has a Welsh mother, took over as head coach following Gemma Grainger's decision to resign with immediate effect in January to coach Norway.

Reacting to Tuesday's draw in host country Switzerland, Wilkinson says she was confident of Wales' ability against the upcoming opposition.

"Our ambition is always to win every game," she said.

"This team can beat any country on their day, I truly believe that - but it's consistency that will allow us to have success in this tournament.

"If we're able to do that, I know we'll be able to deliver results."

At the time of the draw, Wales are ranked 32nd in the FIFA world rankings, with Ukraine 33rd, Croatia 58th and Kosovo 100th.

This is likely to be the last chance for a number of Wales' players to qualify for a major tournament, while Wilkinson won't be using the disruption of a new head coach coming in as an excuse for not performing.

"This is a beginning for me but it isn't for these players.

"My appointment shouldn't ever be used as an excuse or barrier for why we're not performing.

"It's a quick turnaround but in that way you hit the ground running. It definitely helps with focus."

Wilkinson watched on from the stands as Wales beat Ireland 2-0 in a friendly last week, just a day after being unveiled as the new head coach, with a number of fringe players being given an opportunity.

"Performance and results are going to drive a lot of what we're doing but that does need to be combined with opportunities. It's a fine balance."

Wilkinson's mother, as well as members of her extended family, are Welsh and she spent part of her childhood here.

Grainger led Wales Women to the brink of World Cup qualification, before the team lost out in the play-off final.

The Women's Euros start on 2 July, 2025, in Switzerland.

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