Wales announce squad for 2027 World Cup qualifiers as Fishlock returns
Jess Fishlock is back in Wales camp this March for their first 2027 World Cup qualifiers against Czechia and Montenegro.
But not as a player, as a coach.
Fishlock, who retired from international football in October as Wales’ all time record cap holder and goal scorer, will join her former international team-mates as a technical assistant for Wales’ opening 2027 World Cup qualifying game against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, 3 March.
Wales legend Fishlock, 39, retired from international football in October, but signed a new one-year deal with National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Reign the following month.
With the NWSL starting in March, she can only be a part of Rhian Wilkinson’s coaching staff for the first week of the camp.
“She’s obviously in pre-season with Seattle so a big thank you to Seattle and to her coach Laura Harvey for allowing us to borrow her for the front end of this campaign,” said Wales head coach Wilkinson.
“She’s coming in as a technical assistant. I know as a former player who became a coach, it’s quite a leap off a cliff. When the players have days off, you do not. Your day starts a lot earlier and ends a lot later.
“Jess is still a player for Seattle and she’s just retired from the national team so she will be eased into it. In that way, it’s slightly different than the other technical staff, but she will be putting in a shift for sure.”
Fishlock’s former team-mate Kayleigh Barton, who has been working with Wales’ under-17s squad after retiring in the wake of Euro 2025, will also be involved with the senior group.
“These are women who have given everything for their country and as our young players come through now, I think having the support of those players around the environment is huge,” Wilkinson added.
“Equally, Jess needs to see a little bit behind the curtain so she can make her decisions about what she might want to do in the future, if she ever retires.”
Joel and Sopper recalled as Hughes misses out
Wilkinson has recalled fit-again Newcastle United player Lois Joel to her squad for the first two group games, but midfielder Laura Hughes misses out through injury.
Hughes, who has previously been capped by Australia, made her Wales debut in the friendly win over Switzerland in December.
Wilkinson says she does not know the exact nature of Hughes’ injury, but expects her back for the double-header against Albania in April.
There are three uncapped players in the squad – goalkeeper Poppy Soper and Plymouth Argyle duo Olivia Francis and Phoebie Poole.
Wales Squad
Olivia Clark (Leicester City)
Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United)
Poppy Soper (Rugby Borough)
Ceri Holland (Liverpool)
Gwen Zimmerman (Eclipse Select)
Ella Powell (Bristol City)
Rhiannon Roberts (Sunderland)
Hayley Ladd (Everton)
Gemma Evans (Liverpool)
Charlie Estcourt (Portsmouth)
Lily Woodham (Liverpool)
Esther Morgan (Bristol City)
Sophie Ingle (Bristol City)
Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic)
Angharad James (Seattle Reign)
Lois Joel (Newcastle United)
Carrie Jones (IFK Norrkoping)
Tianna Teisar (Plymouth Argyle – on loan from Bristol City)
Mared Griffiths (Sunderland – on loan from Manchester United)
Olivia Francis (Plymouth Argyle)
Phoebie Poole (Plymouth Argyle)
Hannah Cain (Leicester City)
Rachel Rowe (Nottingham Forest)
Ffion Morgan (West Ham United)
Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace)
Mary McAteer (Charlton Athletic)
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