Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson warned the national side that courage, not fear, will decide their fate in the World Cup play‑offs. After a 4‑0 home win and a 1‑0 victory against Albania, the Dragons must beat the third‑place team before facing the winner of Romania‑Norway. Wilkinson insists the squad must step up.

The first leg of the Albania tie begins on 9 October away, with the return match at The Racecourse on 13 October. A win on aggregate would set Wales against former manager Gemma Grainger’s Norway side, currently ranked 14th worldwide. Wilkinson called the encounter an “incredible challenge” that the team must embrace.

Wilkinson reflected on Euro 2025, noting the Dragons’ struggle against the Netherlands, France and England. She said lessons learned from those high‑pressure games must translate into confidence for the play‑offs. “We can’t be frightened of not showing up,” she added, urging the squad to play with the bravado she envisions.

Off the pitch, Wales’ qualification record shows a dominant home campaign, yet away form remains uneven. A 6‑1 win over Montenegro, a 4‑0 rout of Albania and a 3‑1 victory over the Czech Republic bookended the group, while a 1‑0 win and a 1‑1 draw on the road highlighted gaps. Wilkinson stresses improvement away is essential.