Wales to be without seven players, including Ceri Holland, for World Cup play-off semi versus Albania
Wales will be without seven players, including Liverpool's Ceri Holland, for their Women's World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final first leg in Albania on Friday, 9 October. Holland, Liverpool's player of the season for 2025-26, is among those omitted from the squad because of fitness issues.
Holland has been sidelined for Liverpool's past three games and is one of seven players ruled out; the others are Olivia Clark, Hayley Ladd, Laura Hughes, Ffion Morgan, Ella Powell and Mia Ross. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson has responded by bringing in two 18-year-olds, Newcastle forward Casi Gregson and Tottenham Hotspur wide player Heidi Hills, for their first senior call-ups.
The loss of Olivia Clark means Safia Middleton-Patel, who is on loan at Watford from Manchester United, is the only goalkeeper in the squad with international experience. Hayley Ladd, a Crystal Palace player with 115 caps, and Southampton midfielder Laura Hughes were expected to feature before being sidelined, while West Ham wide player Ffion Morgan is also unavailable.
Mia Ross, unattached after leaving Charlton Athletic earlier this month, and Bristol City's Ella Powell both received minutes in Wales' most recent camp when they drew in Montenegro and then beat the Czech Republic in June to secure top spot in their World Cup qualifying group. The absences remove several players who could have expected game-time in the Albania ties.
Wilkinson's two teenage call-ups are among six uncapped players in the squad, alongside goalkeepers Soffia Kelly and Poppy Soper, Wolves' Olivia Francis and 19-year-old centre-back Cadi Rodgers, who joined Plymouth Argyle this week having most recently been at Chelsea. Casi Gregson, from Ceredigion and a former Gwalia United player, moved to Newcastle in February, while Tottenham academy product Heidi Hills, previously at Reading, received her first under-19s call-up earlier this year.
The full squad named includes Soffia Kelly (Aston Villa), Safia Middleton-Patel (Watford – on loan from Manchester United), Poppy Soper (Sheffield United), Hannah Cain (Everton), Mayzee Davies (Manchester City), Charlie Estcourt (Fulham), Gemma Evans (Newcastle), Olivia Francis (Wolves), Casi Gregson (Newcastle), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United), Scarlett Hill (Manchester United), Elise Hughes (Sunderland), Sophie Ingle (Bristol City), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Esther Morgan (Bristol City), Mary McAteer (Ipswich – on loan from Charlton), Phoebie Poole (Watford), Tianna Teisar (Watford), Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland), Rachel Rowe (Nottingham Forest), Lily Woodham (Liverpool), Heidi Hills (Tottenham), Cadi Rodgers (Plymouth).
Wales are unbeaten in their past eight internationals after a run of 12 games without a win ended with a friendly victory against Switzerland in December 2025. The winners of Wales' semi-final will face either Norway or Romania in the play-off final in December; the lowest-ranked of the eight play-off winners in Europe will go into the inter-confederation play-offs, and - should they get that far - there is a decent chance that would be Wales.
Wales travel to Albania for the first leg on Friday, 9 October at 17:00 BST, with the return fixture in Llanelli four days later; the first leg will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales Extra, Radio Cymru, and covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with text commentary. The winners will progress to face Norway or Romania in the December play-off final, and, if they advance through both European play-off rounds, may then have to contest inter-confederation play-offs early next year to secure a place at next year's World Cup in Brazil.
