Cain and Hill start as Wales seek a World Cup play-off final place
Hannah Cain and Scarlett Hill start for Wales in Tuesday’s World Cup play-off second leg against Albania at Parc y Scarlets. Rhian Wilkinson has made two changes from the side that won 1-0 in Shkodër on Friday. Esther Morgan and Rachel Rowe move to the substitutes’ bench. Tianna Teisar joins the matchday squad and is also named among the substitutes, alongside Olivia Francis, who made her senior debut in the first leg. Kick-off in Llanelli is 7.15pm.
Wales before the decider
- First-leg advantage
- 1-0
- Cain’s goals this campaign
- 6
- James’ scheduled appearance
- 147th cap
- Current unbeaten run
- 9 matches
- Kick-off
- 13 October, 7.15pm BST
Cain’s goals and Hill’s first-leg impact
The FAW says Cain has scored six goals in this qualifying campaign. Hill comes into the starting side after being named Player of the Match for her substitute appearance in Albania. Captain Angharad James is set to win her 147th cap. Speaking before the match, James said Wales must focus on a fresh 90-minute contest rather than dwell on the one-goal aggregate advantage.
A play-off final place, not qualification tonight
The winners of this tie will face Norway or Romania over two legs in the next play-off round, scheduled for November and December. Beating Albania would therefore take Wales closer to the 2027 World Cup, without securing a finals place tonight. The FAW also says Wales have equalled the women’s team’s previous nine-match unbeaten record. Avoiding defeat tonight would extend that run to ten; the result has still to be decided.
Background and supporting figures
Where this sits
Cain starts with6qualifying goals; Hill starts after FAWPlayeroftheMatch recognition off the bench in the first leg.
Tonight’s winner reaches a further two-legged play-off, while an unbeaten result would surpass the existing9game unbeaten record.