Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson has suggested that some members of her squad are set to retire from international football.
The country played at their first-ever major women’s international tournament at Euro 2025.
Pitted in the tournament’s ‘group of death’, Wales crashed out after defeats to the Netherlands, France and eventual champions England.
After their final game, Jess Fishlock, 38, admitted she needed to think about her international future.
Wilkinson, in an interview with the BBC, appeared to suggest that a number of players could retire from international duty.
What did Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson say?
Wales play their first game on home soil since Euro 2025 against Australia on Saturday, October 25th.
The friendly will be played at the Cardiff City Stadium, and will be the first meeting between the two nations.
Wilkinson told the BBC that it’s important for players to play at home one more time if they are going to retire.
She said: “I think it’s an important game for those players that are going to retire, to play at home one more time.
“I think for our fans we never played a send-off game [before Euro 2025], it didn’t work with our Nations League games.
“So [it is] an opportunity to play one of the top teams in the world again at home, but also to thank a few of our players for how much they’ve given to their country.”
Rhian Wilkinson’s side will face Australia in their first match since Euro 2025 at the Cardiff City Stadium in October ⚽️🏴 pic.twitter.com/HpPUCkJs36
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) August 8, 2025
Which Wales players could retire from international duty?
The only player who commented on her international future was Jess Fishlock.
Fishlock, Wales’ most-capped player, said she would have a ‘little think’ about her international future.
In an exclusive interview with SheKicks last month,Wilkinson compared Fishlock’s longevity to Cristiano Ronaldo and James Milner in the men’s game, stating it would be ‘detrimental’ to use age as a deciding factor for when they are to retire.
Striker Kayleigh Barton announced her retirement from playing football after Euro 2025, and was named as head coach of Brighton-based Saltdean United Women earlier this summer.
Other experienced players in the Wales squad include Sophie Ingle, 34, and Rhiannon Roberts, 35.
Ingle returned to Bristol City after leaving Chelsea earlier this summer, while Roberts joined Sunderland in July.
Crystal Palace’s Josie Green and Nottingham Forest signing Rachel Rowe, both 32, were also in Wales’ Euro 2025 squad.
However, none of those players have revealed any plans to retire from international football.
Wales will look to qualify for their first Women’s World Cup after reaching their first European Championship. The qualifying draw will take place on November 4th.
