Wales: Gemma Grainger's side to play Northern Ireland and Portugal in April

Wales and Northern Ireland women footballers in actionAled Llywelyn/Huw Evans Agency

Wales drew 2-2 with Northern Ireland at Rodney Parade in September 2019 in Euro 2022 qualifying

Wales will play World Cup-bound Portugal on Tuesday, 11 April in a friendly away in Guimaraes.

Gemma Grainger's side also host Northern Ireland, on Thursday, 6 April, in a friendly at Cardiff City Stadium.

The games will be part of Wales' preparations for the new Uefa Nations League campaign which begins in September.

Portugal booked their place at the 2023 Women's World Cup in the play-off final which Wales narrowly missed out on.

Both matches will be available to watch live on the BBC.

Wales have recently finished their Pinatar Cup campaign, in which they remained unbeaten over three games but finished second to Iceland.

Gemma Grainger's side conceded just once during their time in Spain, when they also faced Philippines and Scotland.

Wales last faced Northern Ireland in Euro 2022 qualifying.

Both games in that campaign were drawn, with Northern Ireland qualifying for the play-offs and going on to reach the finals.

This will be Northern Ireland's first game since manager Kenny Shiels' departure at the end of January.

The Irish FA said the recruitment process for Shiels' replacement was under way.

Northern Ireland finished ahead of Wales in Euro 2022 qualifying on head-to-head away goals.

Simone Magill gave the visitors the lead at Rodney Parade before Angharad James and Kayleigh Green scored for Wales. Ashley Hutton earned a draw for Northern Ireland with a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The return fixture in Belfast in November 2019 finished goalless, with both sides finishing on 14 points, four behind group winners Norway.

The Racecourse Ground had been a possible venue for April's friendly but a backlog of home fixtures for Wrexham as a result of their FA cup run and postponed matches means it will be staged in the Welsh capital.

Wales' match against Portugal will be the first meeting between the two nations since 2018, when they played out a goalless draw in Almada.

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