Wales given play-off history lesson before Albania second leg

What the report says

Wales captain Angharad James says the squad have been reminded of the pressures and emotions of play-off football as they prepare for Tuesday’s Women’s World Cup qualifying second leg against Albania in Llanelli. Wales carry a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Shkoder and are aiming to move closer to a first World Cup appearance, with the next stage of qualifying still likely to involve another difficult tie if they progress.

BBC Sport Wales reports that James, a 146-cap midfielder with Seattle Reign, explained the group held an early meeting to make sure newer and younger players understood what was at stake. Wales have only reached a major-tournament qualifying play-off three times in their history. The squad have been encouraged by experiences from previous campaigns, including the painful extra-time loss to Switzerland in 2022 and the successful Euro 2025 qualification run that followed against Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland.

The article also notes that Wales’ current group is affected by injuries, meaning only a handful of players from the decisive Dublin victory are expected to be available to start again. James said Wales must treat the Albania return as a fresh 90-minute match rather than focus on the aggregate lead. More broadly, she suggested the team are trying to use past setbacks and successes as motivation while keeping their attention on the immediate task.