The Football Association of Wales (FAW)’s chief executive Noel Mooney has called for UEFA to expand the Women’s European Championships.

Mooney is asking UEFA to bring the women’s competition in line with the men’s version, and increase the number of nations competing from 16 to 24.

Wales beat the Republic of Ireland in a play-off to qualify for their first ever major tournament in 2025, before bowing out at the group stages following defeats to European giants France, Netherlands, and England.

Rhian Wilkinson’s side are currently bidding to reach their first World Cup and, with Euro 2029 in mind, the FAW wants European football’s governing body to increase the number of participants.

“We’re lobbying quite strongly with UEFA to try and move from a 16-team Euros to 24 teams like the men,” FAW chief executive Noel Mooney told BBC Sport Wales.

“I don’t see why we shouldn’t have 24 teams for 2029.

“We think that’s right, we think that’s fair, so we’re lobbying for that which would obviously give teams like ourselves or our neighbours in Scotland or Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland a greater chance to play at the Euros.”

The first men’s tournament to expand to 24 team was Euro 2016, where Wales qualified for their first European Championships, embarking on a remarkable run to the semi-finals before defeat to eventual champions Portugal.

Germany are set to host Euro 2029, with infrastructure in place to hold an expanded edition of the tournament.

“The Republic lost out to us going to Euro 2025, but if that was a 24-team tournament they’d have been there and that would have been a huge lift for their country,” Irishman Mooney added.

“We were beneficiaries last time and for the World Cup it’s our aim of course to get there but we are cognisant of the complexity of the current system with FIFA to qualify.”

Rhian Wilkinson’s Wales side are currently aiming to be one of 11 teams at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, and qualify for a first Women’s World Cup.

Wales beat the Czech Republic on Tuesday to finish top of their 2027 World Cup qualifying group. Wilkinson’s team must now navigate two European play-off ties, and could also face an inter-confederation play-off after that.

“We’re very lucky and we have great friends at UEFA,” said Mooney, who used to work for UEFA and the Football Association of Ireland, taking interim control of the association during a period of financial crisis..

“For example, Nadine Kessler, the chief of women and girls’ football, I worked very closely with and she’s someone who is very progressive in how she thinks. UEFA itself has been very progressive.

“[Former Wales captain] Laura McAllister is vice president of UEFA and would be very much somebody who can bring our voice to UEFA, which is great for us.

“Working with countries like our neighbours who are interested in this, we can bring those voices to UEFA and say, ‘Look, we understand the costs impact by increasing the amount of teams, but if you’re doing it for the men you should do it for the women too’.”

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