Wales target Albania in play-off semi-final as Grainger reunion looms
Wales resume their bid to reach a first Women's World Cup this week as they prepare to face Albania in a play-off semi-final, with the first leg in Shkoder and the return in Llanelli four days later. The squad enters the tie aware that former boss Gemma Grainger could meet them in a December two-legged play-off final if both nations progress.
Wales arrive at the play-offs unbeaten in their past eight internationals and carry momentum from qualifying, but face the immediate task of overcoming Albania before contemplating a potential meeting with Grainger's Norway side. Grainger was appointed Wales manager in 2021 and came closer than any predecessor to ending Wales' wait for a World Cup place when her team were beaten by a late Switzerland goal in their World Cup play-off final in 2022. She signed a new long-term Wales deal in 2023 and then stood down in January 2024 to take charge of Norway.
Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson's side will meet Albania in the play-off semi-final and Ceri Holland, reflecting on the draw, said: "It's a really exciting draw. I think she has done a very good job [with Norway]." Holland added: "Obviously we have got to get through the Albania tie first. Then we can look ahead." Norway are expected to face Romania in the other semi-final, with the winner of that tie likely to be Wales' opponent in December should Wales advance.
Grainger's tenure at Wales drew criticism after relegation from the top tier of the Nations League A in 2023, but her period in charge was also credited with growing support and improving results. Lily Woodham, who was introduced to Wales under Grainger, said: "She was a great person for us. We had her for a long time, we developed as a nation through her and learned different things." The article notes Grainger called Ceri Holland into her first Wales squad in 2021.
Wales will be without Holland for the Albania ties after she was left out of the squad through injury; Holland was also absent through injury when Wales faced Albania twice during the group phase of World Cup qualifying in April. Albania are ranked 67th in the world, 36 places below Wales, and Woodham, who started both earlier victories over Albania, said: "We have played them and done well and not so well, but we have beaten them. They are a really tough opponent, so we are going to have to work really hard to get through that first stage."
Home and away form shaped Wales' qualifying campaign, with convincing home wins against Albania, Montenegro (6-1) and the Czech Republic (3-1) and less consistent results on the road: they could only draw in Montenegro and had to salvage a point against the Czechs in Uherske Hradiste in March. Woodham reflected on the travel impact, saying: "It is hard going away and the travel does have some sort of impact. We have looked at those [away games], reviewed them and hopefully this time we get it right." Woodham scored as Wales beat the Czech Republic in June to seal top spot in their World Cup qualifying group and that match was her 50th cap.
If Wales avoid an upset against Albania they would face a Norway team ranked 14th and who reached the last 16 at the most recent World Cup; Wales have never beaten a team in the world's top 20 in a competitive fixture. Woodham added there is "no doubt within the group" that Wales have the potential to challenge Norway should the opportunity arise. The article also notes that even after winning both European play-off rounds the lowest-ranked of the eight play-off winners will enter the inter-confederation play-offs early next year, a route that could apply to Wales.
The first leg of the Women's World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final is on Friday, 9 October at 17:00 BST in Shkoder, with the second leg four days later in Llanelli; coverage is on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales Extra, Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
