Midfielder Angharad James-Turner Called up to Wales National Team for Women’s World Cup Qualifying Match

Seattle Reign FC midfielder Angharad James-Turner has been called up to the Welsh Women’s National Team for the nation’s FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying matches in March. Wales, situated in Group B1 alongside Albania, Czechia and Montenegro, will play Czechia on the road before hosting Montenegro in Llanelli. 

The groups were drawn in November, as the Women’s European Qualifiers run from February to December to determine which UEFA teams will earn a spot at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. As if the stakes were not already high enough, the results of these matches will also determine promotion and relegation ahead of the next edition of the UEFA Women’s Nationals League. 

In order to successfully qualify for the World Cup, Cymru will need to find success in the group stages of qualifying and advance through the play-offs. Though there are multiple play-off paths to qualification, the squad is first focused on the matches in front of them. 

As Cymru’s captain, James-Turner has long been a leader on the Welsh squad that rose to new heights in 2025. She was a core part of the Cymru squad to compete in the nation’s first major tournament over the summer and she shows no signs of slowing down. 

One of the few centurions on the squad, James-Turner is touted as a calm and stable presence in the middle of the pitch. She has a keen understanding of how to handle high pressure moments, for both club and country – a trait that will prove to be important as the Wales roster includes three uncapped players. Within her game, she has a unique way of unlocking the middle of the pitch offensively and commanding her space defensively. 

Also joining Wales this international window is Reign FC veteran Jess Fishlock. Though she recently retired from international football, Fishlock will join Rhian Wilkinson on the sidelines as a technical assistant coach for the opening match against Czechia before returning to Seattle to resume preseason training with the Reign.