WALES WOMEN v SLOVENIA and JESS

 The Wales women's national football team has yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 31st in the World and 20th in Europe. The team is run by the Football Association of Wales. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations, Wales, which is a country, is permitted by FIFA statutes to maintain its own national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

The Wales Squad has two matches left of their 2023 World Cup qualifying campaign to secure a play-off spot. Wales’ football manager Gemma Grainger has named a 26-player squad for the crunch Women's World Cup qualifiers next month which could see Wales progress to the play-offs in their bid to reach a first major tournament.

Gemma Grainger (born 17 July 1982) is an English football manager and former player who manages the Wales women's national team. She previously managed at club level with Leeds United and Middlesbrough. A UEFA Pro Licence since holder 2016, she coached various England women's development teams, including at the 2014 U-20 World Cup, 2016 U-17 World Cup and European finals at under-19 (twice) and under-17 level. In total she managed more than 90 England international fixtures in 11 years with the Football Association. She was also part of the England senior team coaching team for UEFA Women's Euro 2017. Grainger was appointed Wales manager in March 2021 on a four-year contract

Most-capped Welsh international, Jess Fishlock MBE, returns following a “Summer break”, while Welsh football looks to celebrate a new centurion in midfield maestro Angharad James, who has just signed for Tottenham. Liverpool's Rhiannon Roberts will reach 50 caps if she features in both matches.

Wales, who have never qualified for a major women's tournament, will secure a 2023 World Cup play-off spot by taking a point or more from their final qualifier, at home to Slovenia on September 6 (7.45pm) having just beaten Greece away 0-1.

More than 8,500 tickets have already been sold for the final fixture with Slovenia at Cardiff City Stadium, meaning the previous record attendance for a home women's football international (5,455) is set to be surpassed amid interest in women's football reaching new heights. Football bosses want to see at least 10,000 fans at the match, with many of those likely to be attending for the first time.

Wales beat Greece 5-0 in the reverse fixture in Llanelli last November, but drew 1-1 away to Slovenia a month prior, while Greece pulled off a shock draw against the Slovenians to show that nothing can be taken for granted.

Wales boss Grainger admits Wales will benefit from England's Euro 2022 success but are very much focused on their own journey. "Without doubt the Euros has massively transformed the visibility of women's football in the UK," Grainger said. "Look at the television figures and the crowds, it's huge for women's football.

"The legacy of the Euros has to be the visibility of the women's game and how we capitalise on that interest. We have to make sure we use that opportunity to grow the game. So for us we're excited about playing against Slovenia at Cardiff City. The crowd will, without doubt, give us that competitive advantage and that's exciting".

Middlesbrough-born Grainger felt huge pride at England's Euros triumph having coached so many of Sarina Wiegman's players during her 11 years at the Football Association, and she is excited by what the Lionesses' success means for the development of the Women's Super League and how Wales can tap into that future, with the majority of the squad plying their club trade in England.

"The WSL and the Championship are arguably two of the best domestic leagues in the world," Grainger said. "To have that on our doorstep is a competitive advantage, and I think the league will get better because the investment will get better off the back of the Euros."

Wales squad: Laura O’Sullivan, Olivia Clark, Safia Middleton-Patel, Rhiannon Roberts, Josie Green, Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans, Rachel Rowe, Lily Woodham, Sophie Ingle, Anna Filbey, Angharad James, Georgia Walters, Charlie Estcourt, Jess Fishlock, Carrie Jones, Ffion Morgan, Megan Wynne, Elise Hughes, Kayleigh Green, Helen Ward, Natasha Harding, Ceri Holland, Maria Francis-Jones, Chloe Williams, Morgan Rogers.

Qualifications for this coming FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup:

Wales have beaten Kazakhstan on September 17^th 6-0 and then beat Estonia away 0-1 on the 21^st. Next on October 22^nd was Slovenia 1-1 away and on the 26^th Oct. beat Estonia 4-0 at home.

Two matches v Greece ended up 5-0 win at home in November 26^th  and on Sept 2^nd a win 0-1 away.

Wales lost to France away on November 30^th 2021 2-0 and lost 1-2 at home April 8^th 2022. Four days later they beat Kazakhstan  0-3 away.

Today Wales play Slovenia at Wrexham. Tickets for tonight’s international start at £2 (group bookings) and £4 (individual bookings) for kids. BARGAIN.