Euro 2025: What comes next for Wales after their first major tournament?
Wales’ men qualifying for Euro 2016, their first major finals in 58-years, has transformed the way football has been viewed in Wales ever since.
Once undisputedly a rugby country, Wales’ men’s side are more than used to seeing ‘sold out’ signs at the Cardiff City Stadium and it is now more of a talking point when Wales don’t qualify for a major finals than when they do.
The fervour of that support has not, however, translated to the women’s side, until now.
Wales sold more tickets than two of their Euro 2025 group D opponents, Netherlands and France, with the Red Wall showing a commitment to Rhian Wilkinson’s side that has previously been missing.
Many supporters in Switzerland have attended their first women’s football matches and the hope is that the visibility of the tournament will add interest in the women’s game, with boss Rhian Wilkinson previously expressing disappointment that supporters prioritise watching the men’s side.
The Welsh support in Switzerland has caught people’s attention, both inside and outside of the Wales camp.
“The fans have been loving it, they have been superb this whole journey, they have been our 12th person,” captain Angharad James reflected.
“The fans have given us so many special moments with the noise they have created, there have been times when all we’ve seen and heard is that Red Wall, just a sea of red.
“Wales have been by far the best crowd that I’ve seen out in this Euros.”
Wales’ cap centurion Sophie Ingle revealed that after Wales defeat by the Netherlands, her former Chelsea teammate, Wieke Kaptein, messaged her to say how moving she found the rendition of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau.
Wales will now hope that support will translate to bigger crowds for home matches, with Wales’ record attendance still not having even reached the 20,000 mark.
“Hopefully that’s what it’s going to do in so many ways,” former Wales defender Danny Gabbidon said.
“The game is growing. Football now is the most popular sport that girls are playing in Wales.
“That process has started, but it needs to continue. This is just the start for this team.”