Wales national under-21 football team
| Nickname | Young Dragons (Welsh: Dreigiau Ifanc) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Association of Wales (FAW) | ||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Matt Jones | ||
| Most caps | Shaun MacDonald (25) | ||
| Top scorer | Ched Evans (13) | ||
| FIFA code | WAL | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 England 0–0 Wales  (Wolverhampton, England; 15 December 1976) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
 Gibraltar 0–7 Wales (Gibraltar; 12 November 2021) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
.svg.png){kind=small} Italy 8–1 Wales (Pavia, Italy; 5 September 2003) Wales 0–7 Belgium .svg.png){kind=small} (Newport, Wales; 10 October 2025) | |||
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two years. To date Wales haven't yet qualified for the finals tournament but in recent years have shown good form, losing in a playoff (5–4) to England in the 2009 qualifying campaign and finishing second in their group two years later, after leading their group until their last game Wales only needed a draw to qualify for the play-offs but lost 1–0 away to Italy.
The under-21 team came into existence following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976. A goalless draw in a friendly against England at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux Stadium was Wales U21s' first result.
The national under-21 team is the highest level of youth football in Wales, and is open to any players who were born in Wales or whose parents or grandparents were born in Wales. This team is for Welsh players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Also in existence are teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side and again for the U21s.
Recent history
Historically the team was viewed by the Welsh national management as a hole to be filled rather than a team to be used to nurture young international players. Many of the great Welsh players spent little time at the under-21 team level. Ryan Giggs only made one appearance for the under-21 team before making his senior debut against Germany the next day.
From 2004 onward however, the former Wales national football team manager John Toshack and former Wales Under 21 manager Brian Flynn used the under-21 team to create a pool of youthful Welsh talent. The team now has a much better tracking system of young Welsh players, and has seen a marked improvement in players and team results. Recent results have seen them achieve big wins against Estonia (5–1), Northern Ireland (4–0) and France (4–2).
Players who have made the step from the U21s to attain over 50 caps for the senior squad are Gary Speed, Simon Davies, Carl Robinson, Craig Bellamy, Robert Earnshaw, James Collins, John Hartson, Andy King, Joe Ledley, Sam Vokes, Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Connor Roberts, Harry Wilson, Daniel James, Joe Rodon and Chris Mepham.
On 15 May 2008, they played a friendly against England U21s to mark the 100th match in the history of the side, losing 2–0.
A 3–0 victory against Romania in September 2008 meant that the Under-21 side finished top of their qualifying group for the first time in their history. It meant Wales would go into a two-legged play-off against England in October 2008 for a place in the finals of the 2009 UEFA Under-21 Championship to be played in Sweden. Wales lost the playoff 5–4 over the course of two legs. Losing 3–2 at home in the first leg and drawing 2–2 away in the second.
Wales started their qualifying campaign for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship with a 1–0 away win against Andorra, a 3–1 away loss against Montenegro, a 1–0 home win against Montenegro, a 1–0 home defeat against Czech Republic and a 0–0 away draw against Armenia.
In May 2012 Brian Flynn vacated his position as Wales under-21 manager at the end of his contract and in July 2012 Geraint Williams was appointed team manager [1] Williams resigned as team manager on 5 December 2016. On 15 March 2017 it was announced that former Port Vale and Northampton Town manager Rob Page had left his position on the coaching staff at Nottingham Forest to become Wales under-21 manager. In August 2019 Page was appointed assistant coach to the senior Wales squad under Ryan Giggs with Paul Bodin stepping up from the Under 19's to manage the Under 21 team.[2]
In November 2021, Wales picked up their biggest ever win at under-21 level when they beat Gibraltar 7–0 in a qualifier for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[3] In July 2022 Bodin's contract with Wales Under-21 was terminated by mutual consent.[4] In September 2022, Matt Jones was appointed as manager.[5]
Players
Latest squad
Players born on or after 1 January 2004 are eligible for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
The following players were called up for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group I match against Belarus on 14 November 2025.[6]
Caps and goals as of 14 November 2025, after the match against Belarus. Players in bold have attained full international caps.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Lewys Benjamin | 28 November 2006 | 5 | 0 | Chester (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
|
| 21 | GK | Kit Margetson | 10 July 2006 | 0 | 0 | Connah's Quay Nomads (on loan from Swansea City)
|
| GK | Luke Armstrong | 19 June 2006 | 0 | 0 | Penybont (on loan from Cardiff City)
| |
| 3 | DF | Luey Giles | 4 August 2006 | 3 | 0 | Eastleigh (on loan from Cardiff City)
|
| 4 | DF | Ed James | 23 December 2004 | 4 | 0 | Exeter City
|
| 5 | DF | Daniel Cox | 30 January 2006 | 4 | 0 | Derby County
|
| 15 | DF | Ben Hammond | 2 October 2004 | 5 | 0 | Northampton Town (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
|
| 19 | DF | Thierry Katsukunya | 30 November 2005 | 4 | 0 |  Real Unión (on loan from Aston Villa)
|
| DF | Archie Harris | 27 December 2004 | 5 | 0 | Eastleigh (on loan from Bournemouth)
| |
| 6 | MF | Kai Andrews | 6 August 2006 | 4 | 0 |  Hibernian (on loan from Coventry City)
|
| 8 | MF | Charlie Crew | 15 June 2006 | 7 | 0 | Leeds United
|
| 10 | MF | Joel Cotterill | 10 October 2004 | 15 | 3 | Dundee (on loan from Swansea City)
|
| 11 | MF | Cameron Congreve | 24 January 2004 | 11 | 0 | Dundee (on loan from Swansea City)
|
| 14 | MF | Dakarai Mafico | 7 December 2006 | 1 | 0 | Yeovil Town (on loan from Cardiff City)
|
| 16 | MF | Jonathan Bland | 24 October 2005 | 5 | 0 | Barnsley
|
| 18 | MF | Calum Agius | 5 September 2005 | 4 | 0 | Crewe Alexandra
|
| 7 | FW | Cian Ashford | 24 September 2004 | 10 | 3 | Cardiff City
|
| 9 | FW | Chris Popov | 26 October 2004 | 17 | 3 | Morecambe (on loan from Leicester City)
|
| 17 | FW | Tanatswa Nyakuhwa | 17 September 2005 | 5 | 1 | Newport County (on loan from Cardiff City)
|
| 20 | FW | Gabriele Biancheri | 18 September 2006 | 3 | 1 | Rotherham United (on loan from Manchester United)
|
| 22 | FW | Freddie Issaka | 28 July 2006 | 2 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle
|
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the Wales under-21 squad and remain eligible. Players in bold have caps for the senior team.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Evan Watts | 23 September 2004 | 7 | 0 |  Galway United (on loan from Swansea City)
|
v.  Austria, 14 October 2025
|
| GK | Ronnie Hollingshead | 9 September 2004 | 2 | 0 | Aston Villa
|
v.  Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| DF | Sam Parker | 7 July 2006 | 3 | 0 | Swansea City
|
v. Austria, 14 October 2025
|
| DF | George Nevett | 14 February 2006 | 1 | 0 | Peterborough United
|
v. Austria, 14 October 2025
|
| DF | Alex Williams | 2 January 2005 | 5 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion
|
v.  Denmark, 8 September 2025
|
| DF | Zac Williams | 27 March 2004 | 2 | 0 | Kilmarnock (on loan from Crewe Alexandra)
|
v. Denmark, 8 September 2025
|
| DF | Dylan Lawlor | 1 January 2006 | 1 | 0 | Cardiff City
|
v.  Norway, 6 June 2025
|
| DF | Callum Tripp | 28 August 2006 | 1 | 0 | Milton Keynes Dons
|
v. Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| DF | Seb Dabrowski | 11 September 2005 | 1 | 0 | Chippenham Town (on loan from Swansea City)
|
v. Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| MF | Luke Harris | 4 March 2005 | 11 | 1 | Wycombe Wanderers (on loan from Fulham)
|
v. Austria, 14 October 2025
|
| MF | Ben Lloyd | 14 March 2005 | 4 | 0 | Newport County (on loan from Swansea City)
|
v. Austria, 14 October 2025
|
| MF | Troy Perrett | 28 October 2006 | 1 | 0 | Yeovil Town (on loan from Cardiff City)
|
v. Austria, 14 October 2025
|
| MF | Vimal Yoganathan | 13 January 2006 | 1 | 0 | Barnsley
|
v. Denmark, 8 September 2025
|
| MF | Joel Colwill | 27 October 2004 | 7 | 0 | Cardiff City
|
v. Denmark, 8 September 2025SEN
|
| MF | Rhys Thomas | 5 November 2006 | 0 | 0 | Manchester City
|
v. Norway, 6 June 2025
|
| MF | Owen Hampson | 17 November 2004 | 2 | 0 | Sheffield United
|
v. Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| MF | Logan Briggs | 7 February 2006 | 1 | 0 | Leicester City
|
v. Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| MF | Daniel Watts | 16 December 2005 | 1 | 0 | Swansea City
|
v. Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| FW | Alex Roberts | 17 October 2005 | 2 | 0 | Spalding United
|
v. Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| FW | Tom Tweedy | 15 September 2004 | 2 | 0 | Darlington (on loan from Burnley)
|
v. Sweden, 25 March 2025
|
| FW | Omari Benjamin | 4 December 2005 | 0 | 0 | Everton
|
v.  Andorra, 20 March 2025INJ
|
Key
- SUS = Suspended for next match.
- SEN = Called up to senior squad.
- INJ = Withdrew from the squad due to injury.
- WD = Withdrew from the squad for non injury issue.
See also
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship
- Football Association of Wales
- Wales national football team
- Wales national under-20 football team
- Wales national under-19 football team
- Wales national under-18 football team
- Wales national under-17 football team
References
- ^ Williams appointed to Wales Under 21
- ^ Bodin appointed under 21 manager
- ^ "Gibraltar U21s 0-7 Wales U21s". BBC Sport. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Wales Under-21 boss Bodin leaves role". BBC Sport. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- ^ "Matthew Jones: Ex-international midfielder named Wales Under-21 boss". BBC Sport. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ "Cymru U21 squad announced for November EURO qualifier". Football Association of Wales. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
External links
- UEFA Under-21 website Contains full results archive.
- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U21/U23 Championships.
- FAW official site Contains fixtures/results and news for every Wales national football team.
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