Wilkinson warns Wales against dangerous Albania as 1-0 lead stands
October 12, 2026 18:40
Wales travel to Parc y Scarlets holding a 1-0 lead over Albania in their World Cup play-off semi-final after a narrow first-leg victory in Shkoder. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson warned her squad to take nothing for granted, saying they "got away with one" in the away match and describing Albania as "a dangerous Albanian team."
KEY CONTEXT
Wales are favourites to move a step closer to a first World Cup. A successful result in Llanelli would extend Wales' unbeaten run to 10 matches, their longest in the team's history, after last week's win matched a previous nine-game run from November 2013 to August 2014.
The sides met twice during qualifying: Wales won 4-0 in Wrexham in April but only scraped a 1-0 success in the return group game. Wilkinson stressed Albania's propensity to fight for results and urged her players to match their opponents' "effort and pride." She added: "It's one where you better expect to be crawling off the field exhausted if you want to be walking away with a successful game."
INJURIES AND SQUAD NOTES
Wales remain without nine regular squad members through injury, including Olivia Clark, Hayley Ladd, Rhiannon Roberts, Ffion Morgan and Ceri Holland. Wilkinson said she hopes some absentees will be available should Wales progress to a two-legged play-off final in early December.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
If Wales win over Albania they are likely to face Norway in the play-off final; Norway won 2-0 in Romania in their first-leg semi-final. Should Wales then overcome Norway, the side may still have to contest inter-confederation play-offs next February to secure a place in Brazil.
Broadcast: the second leg will be shown on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds and covered on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and the BBC Sport website and app.