The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is developing a women's under-23s team designed to address what officials describe as a significant discontinuity in the progression of female players from youth to senior international football.
Currently, Welsh players transition directly from under-19s competition to the senior national side, creating what campaigners have characterized as an unacceptable void in player development. The FAW has been working toward establishing this intermediate age-grade for several years, responding to sustained pressure from within the sport and from the Welsh Government, which received a petition on the matter earlier in 2026.
Other nations have already implemented similar structures. England and Scotland both operate women's under-23s programmes, providing established models for how such a pathway can function within international football governance.
Why is this change needed?
The gap between under-19s and senior football has been identified as a barrier to talent retention and development. According to a national broadcaster's report, campaigners described the existing pathway as costing Wales valuable talent. The new under-23s team aims to provide extended international exposure and structured monitoring for players at a critical stage of their careers, allowing them to develop further before stepping into senior competition.
Several current Welsh senior players fall within the under-23 age bracket. According to ESPN's Wales squad data from August 2026, this includes Carrie Jones (22), Mia Ross (23), Esther Morgan (23) and Safia Middleton-Patel (21), demonstrating the pool of talent available for such a programme.
What are the FAW's specific goals?
David Adams, the FAW's chief football officer, outlined the association's ambitions for the new structure.
Our goal is to graduate two players per year into the women's national team in order to bridge the significant gap between women's under-19s and seniors and recognise talent across the system.Adams added that
the women's under-23s camp will ensure that several high potential players across the pathway benefit from further monitoring and international exposure to aid their future development.
The first training camp will take place at the FAW's headquarters in Hensol during October 2026, with Nia Davies, who heads the Wales under-19s programme, leading the initiative. The camp has been deliberately scheduled to overlap with senior squad activities, enabling coaching staff and players from both age-groups to collaborate and share expertise.
What happens next?
Following the October international window camp, the FAW will conduct a comprehensive review to assess the pilot and determine the structure and frequency of future under-23s activity. According to UEFA's 2026/27 women's match calendar, October 2026 represents the next scheduled international window, aligning with the FAW's planned camp timing.
The initiative arrives as the FAW pursues broader structural improvements to women's football in Wales. Earlier in 2026, the association revealed that £150 million is needed by 2030 to upgrade facilities amid rising participation among women and girls, reflecting the scale of investment required to support expanded pathways and infrastructure.
It remains unclear whether UEFA will introduce formal European-level under-23 competitions to complement national programmes. According to a national broadcaster's report from June 2026, UEFA indicated there are currently no plans to implement new women's youth competitions at the continental level, despite an independent under-23 European League having launched in July 2024.
