During the last strategic cycle, we witnessed success at different levels of the game and accomplished our ambition to take Welsh football to the world stage. We proved that football is more than a game.
In 2015, our senior men’s team qualified for a major tournament for the first time in nearly 60 years. Up to two-thirds of the population watched the games, with 200,000 fans celebrating the team’s homecoming on the streets of Cardiff after their journey to the semi-finals of EURO 2016. This experience showed the untapped potential of Welsh football.
Less than a year later, we put Wales in the spotlight of the sporting world when we hosted the single largest sporting event in 2017, the UEFA Champions League Final. More than 300,000 fans arrived in Cardiff over the course of four days, while a live global TV audience tuned in from over 200 countries to watch both the men’s and women’s matches.
Wales qualified again for EURO 2020 and reached the Round of 16. We secured back-to-back qualifications for the first time ever. The senior men’s team also continued their success in the UEFA Nations League, being promoted to League A in 2020.
The development and strength of our national youth teams are also clear with the men’s under 17 and under 19 along with the women’s under 17 squads qualifying for UEFA Elite Rounds during the last strategic cycle.
Additionally, we reached a number of other key milestones, including the restructure of the domestic pyramid, progressing the governance structures of the association, progressing our vision for a world class network of facilities, and increasing the number of women and girls playing the game.
Eager to build on the memorable moments and historic achievements, we enter the new strategic cycle with renewed energy, boldness, and a hunger to achieve even more. A game that will become even more accessible and enjoyable; A game more people will take part in more often, across a wide cross section of society and generations. A game that will improve people’s lives and contribute to a story that inspires far beyond a football pitch.