It’s a question that women’s football in Cymru has been waiting for: When will the draw for Euro 2025 take place, and more importantly, who will Rhian Wilkinson’s side face in Switzerland?
This question is already a hot topic among the team, who made history by beating the Republic of Ireland in Dublin to secure a place in their first major finals.
Cymru’s qualification via the play-offs marks a significant milestone, and the excitement is palpable. Star player Jess Fishlock, the record goalscorer for Cymru, expressed the team’s ambition to progress beyond just participating in the tournament. “We’re not there to make up numbers. I believe – and these girls believe – we’re going to get there and compete,” Fishlock told Football Focus. “The dream of reaching a major finals seemed beyond my wildest dreams, but now we’re here, we just can’t wait to experience it.”
Adding to the sense of local pride, captain Angharad James-Turner, who hails from Pembrokeshire, plays a crucial role in the team’s success. “It’s a dream come true for me and all the girls,” said James-Turner. “Representing Cymru in such a major tournament is an incredible honour, especially knowing we’ve come this far.”
The draw for the group stages will take place on Monday, 16 December, in Lausanne, Switzerland, at 17:00 GMT. The tournament will feature 16 teams, including hosts Switzerland, competing across eight venues from 2 to 27 July. The group stage will see the teams split into four groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
Cymru, having qualified via the play-offs, will be placed in Pot 4 for the draw. Other teams in this pot include Finland, Poland, and Portugal. The other seeding pots are as follows:
Pot 1:Switzerland (hosts), Spain, Germany, France.
Pot 2: Italy, Iceland, Denmark, England.
Pot 3: Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Belgium.
“We’ve already started asking each other who we would like, and everyone’s putting in different teams,” Fishlock added. “But it almost doesn’t matter what the group is – we’re just so excited now. We can’t wait to get there and compete.”
The draw for Euro 2025 marks a historic moment for Welsh women’s football, as they look to make a mark on the European stage and show they are not just making up the numbers but ready to compete at the highest level. With players like Angharad James-Turner from Pembrokeshire leading the way, Cymru has a strong local connection to celebrate as they prepare for this momentous event.
