Wales to Host Second Leg of Women's World Cup Play-Off Against Albania
Wales will play the second leg of their Women's World Cup round one play-off against Albania at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli. Rhian Wilkinson's team, unbeaten in the group phase of qualifying and having defeated Albania twice during that stage, aims to advance closer to securing a spot at Brazil 2027.
The first leg is scheduled for Friday, 9 October, in Albania, with the return fixture set for Tuesday, 13 October, in Llanelli. A victory for Wales would see them progress to face either Romania or Norway in a second two-legged tie in early December.
Following that, Wales may compete in an inter-confederation play-off early next year before potentially securing a place at the World Cup.
"I really enjoy playing in Llanelli," said Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson. "The atmosphere is always great, and the Red Wall (Wales' fans) will play a huge part in helping us get over the line in what will be another tough game. I hope that together we can create another special night at Parc y Scarlets."
Recent Performances and Group Success
Wales' most recent match in Llanelli was a commanding 6-1 victory over Montenegro in March. The following month, they delivered a 4-0 win against Albania in Wrexham and secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the return fixture four days later.
These results helped Wales top Group B1, earning them a more favorable path in the play-offs after their win against the Czech Republic earlier this month.
If Wales advance to the second round of play-offs, the first leg will be held at Cardiff City Stadium, with the second leg played away.
Play-Off Structure and Qualification Path
Across Europe, there will be eight play-off winners. Seven of these teams will qualify directly for the World Cup. The team with the lowest ranking from the group phase among the winners will enter an inter-confederation play-off for a final chance to qualify.
