Ceri Holland is one of seven players who will miss out through injury when a depleted Wales squad take on Albania in their Women's World Cup play-off semi-final next month. Influential midfielder Holland has not been included in the Wales squad having been sidelined for Liverpool's past three games. Wales will also be without Olivia Clark, Hayley Ladd, Laura Hughes, Ffion Morgan, Ella Powell and Mia Ross due to fitness issues.
Head coach Rhian Wilkinson has handed first senior call-ups to two 18-year-olds, Newcastle United forward Casi Gregson and Tottenham Hotspur wide player Heidi Hills. Wales travel to Albania for their play-off semi-final first leg on Friday, 9 October before the return in Llanelli four days later. The winners will face either Norway or Romania in the play-off final in December.
Should Wales come through both play-off rounds, they may then have to negotiate inter-confederation play-offs early next year to seal a place at next year's World Cup in Brazil. Women's World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales Extra, Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. 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.
The loss of Holland for the Albania ties is a significant blow given her importance to Wilkinson's team, with the 28-year-old becoming arguably Wales' most important player since the retirement of Jess Fishlock in 2025. The absence of Leicester City's Clark means Safia Middleton-Patel, who is on loan at Watford from Manchester United, is the only goalkeeper with any international experience in this Wales squad. Crystal Palace player Ladd – who has 115 caps - Southampton midfielder Hughes and West Ham wide player Morgan could all have expected game-time in the Albania matches.
Ross, who is unattached after leaving Charlton Athletic earlier this month, and Bristol City's Powell both got minutes in Wales' most recent camp, when they drew in Montenegro and then beat the Czech Republic in June to seal top spot in their World Cup qualifying group. Wales are unbeaten in their past eight internationals having endured a run of 12 games without a win which ended with a friendly success against Switzerland in December 2025. Llanelli to host Wales Women's World Cup play-off Wilkinson's Wales give themselves World Cup chance Gregson and Hills 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.
Gregson, from Ceredigion, is a former Gwalia United player who moved to Newcastle in February. Tottenham academy product Hills, who was previously at Reading, is promoted to the senior Wales squad having received her first under-19s call-up earlier this year. 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).
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