Wales will play their first match at a major women’s tournament on Saturday evening when Rhian Wilkinson’s side meet the Netherlands in the opening round of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Lucerne, Switzerland. Wilkinson said guiding the team at the finals would be “one of the greatest moments” of her career, adding that the squad has evolved into a balanced unit no longer reliant on veteran midfielder Jess Fishlock. UEFA expects around 3,800 Welsh supporters and 3,000 Dutch fans at the 16,000-seat Allmend Stadion, a striking increase from the five Wales followers who attended a World Cup qualifier in Slovenia less than four years ago. Hours before kick-off, a 2.5-kilometre fan march brought Lucerne’s streets to a standstill as the Red Wall made its presence felt with songs, bucket hats and Welsh flags. The fixture marks the start of a demanding Group B campaign that will see Wales face France and then England next week. Regardless of results, the surge in travelling support underscores the rapid growth of the women’s game in Wales and the historic significance of the team’s Euro debut.