Historic highs, sweeping change - 2024 for Wales' national teams

Wales' women and men have eyes on more positive progress in 2025

For Wales' national football teams, 2024 has been a year of sweeping change and significant setbacks, but much greater – and historic – highs.

Earlier this month, the women's senior side qualified for their first major tournament with a momentous win over the Republic of Ireland in their Euro 2025 play-off final.

At next year's tournament in Switzerland, Rhian Wilkinson's Wales will be up against some of the world's best in their group alongside France, England and the Netherlands.

As for the men, 2024 started with the heartache of missing out on the Euros before a dismal summer led to the sacking of manager Rob Page.

But the appointment of Craig Bellamy as his successor has transformed Wales, who won promotion to the Nations League's top tier after an unbeaten campaign in which the head coach's ambitious new playing style augured well for next year's World Cup qualifying.

And underpinning these successes was the emergence of exciting future generations in Wales' youth teams.

To look back on 2024 and look ahead to 2025, BBC Sport Wales speaks to the man whose job covers all of the above, the Football Association of Wales' chief football officer, Dave Adams.

Wilkinson's Wales make history

There can only be one place to begin.

And while there could not have been a happier ending for Wales' women, it was a difficult start to 2024.

In January, Wales were rocked by the news that manager Gemma Grainger was leaving to take the Norway job.

Nobody saw it coming but, within a month, the FAW – led by Adams – had appointed a successor, and one of considerable pedigree in the form of Wilkinson, a vastly experienced ex-Canada defender and former coach of the Portland Timbers, where she had won the National Women's Soccer League (NSWL) title in her first season.

"When I met Rhian and spoke to her it was pretty obvious that she would be a great fit for a team that was already on a pretty good trajectory," Adams says.

"Rhian's got that natural aura about her where she's been to major tournaments herself as a player, been successful as a head coach in winning a tournament in the NWSL.

"I just felt that she had the right sort of fit to propel these girls and give them the motivation and confidence they could actually achieve something."

Wilkinson enjoyed an excellent start as her unbeaten Wales side finished top of their Euro 2025 qualifying group.

They were given a scare in their play-off semi-final against Slovakia but, after losing the first leg, Wales recovered to win after extra time in Cardiff and set up a final against the Republic of Ireland.

A cagey first leg in the Welsh capital finished 1-1, before Wilkinson's side defended heroically and counter-attacked clinically to earn a stirring 2-1 win in Dublin.

That made them history makers, and Adams believes their qualification could have a profound impact on football in Wales.

"I think success on the pitch is one thing. The wider success for Welsh football is phenomenal because it'll end up growing the game to a different level," he says.

"It will inspire girls that they can go to major tournaments. It'll help us leverage new talent into Wales because we know on the men's side, after [Euro] 2016, the success of that enabled us to leverage new talent into Wales, so I see so many benefits in a wider sense.

"From my football perspective, as long as we're competitive and compete in every game and show up for every game with the belief and play our way, I think we give a really strong account of ourselves. That's the most important thing from my perspective."

'Breath of fresh air' Bellamy sets sights on World Cup

Wales' men have become accustomed to playing at major tournaments in recent times, but in March they were given a stark reminder of how failure can sting when their faltering campaign to qualify for Euro 2024 was eventually ended by a penalty shootout defeat against Poland in their play-off final.

There was already pressure on Page and, after he oversaw an embarrassing goalless draw with Gibraltar and a 4-0 thrashing by Slovakia in June's friendlies, the man who took Wales to the 2022 World Cup was sacked.

Adams again led the FAW's recruitment process and turned to former captain Bellamy, who had not managed a team at senior level, but was building a reputation as a promising coach.

Five months and six games in, so far, so inspired.

Wales won three and drew three matches to top their Nations League group and return to the top tier, effectively guaranteeing themselves a World Cup play-off place in the process.

Equally important to Bellamy was that they instilled what he called an "identity", a clear way of playing, in and out of possession.

"It's been exciting. Craig's been a breath of fresh air," says Adams.

"Rob Page did a fantastic job. I just feel like it lost a bit of momentum in the middle of the year, and we had to make a change in order to get this thing moving again and bring a new energy and new focus to the group.

"Craig's done that in spades. He's been so visible. He's been doing lots of talks around the country and really engaging with Welsh people

"And on pitch, there is an identity to the team which I believe we needed. We needed to be a team that had more of the ball, that showed a level of bravery to get on the ball and play more with possession.

"Craig has done that very quickly. I thought it would take a little bit longer than what it has done. We've managed to accelerate that process pretty well, and it's been unbelievable buy-in from everyone. So it's been really positive."

When Bellamy took the job, he said his primary goal was to not only qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but make an impact when they get there – as Wales failed to do in Qatar two years ago.

Wales have been drawn in a qualifying group with Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein, with matches starting in March 2025.

"Having a clear sense of the direction you're going to take in the World Cup is really important for Craig," Adams says.

"We're set up really nicely and the draw, I think, is pretty favourable. We're really looking forward to next year."

Under-19s lead the way for future generation

Adams has a broad remit so, as well as the senior national sides, he also oversees Wales' age-grade teams.

On the men's side, Wales Under-21s came close to qualifying for next summer's European Under-21 Championship.

But after a promising start to the campaign, Matty Jones' side fell away - and had to contend with the embarrassment of having to name a squad without several key players for their final qualifier because of an administrative error.

There was no such problem for Wales Under-19s.

Managed by 109-cap defender Chris Gunter, they advanced from the first stage of qualifying for next summer's European Under-19 Championship in Romania.

If Wales can progress from the elite qualifying round in March, they will become the first team from their country to qualify for the finals stage of a tournament at that age group.

Recent results – including an eye-catching 4-3 friendly win in Italy – suggest Gunter's side are more than capable, while many of the players are being tipped for bright futures.

Manchester United striker Gabriel Biancheri, Plymouth winger Freddie Issaka and Sheffield United defender Zach Giggs – son of ex-Wales boss Ryan – are some of the names to remember.

"A lot of players in that group have got a real opportunity to progress into our men's national team in the future," says Adams.

"They've got a really difficult qualification. In March they play England, Portugal, and Turkey in Wales. So it'll be a really exciting tournament.

"Chris has done a brilliant job. He's really helped those players understand what it means to play for Wales, but also understanding what it looks like to play at the top level.

"We're in a really good spot in terms of the talent pool that sits beneath the men's national team. It's really important on both the men's and women's side, trying to expand that player base."