Wilkinson hoping Fishlock will join Wales staff

Rhian Wilkinson, the Wales manager, anticipates Jess Fishlock’s arrival to her coaching staff before World Cup qualifying kicks off in March.

Wales play two games in the Czech Republic on March 3 and in Montenegro at home four days later in order to advance to Brazil 2027.

After ending her impressive international playing career in October, Fishlock says she wants to “give back in any way I can.”

When Wales return to action in the spring, Wilkinson wants the 38-year-old on board.

She’ll likely be on the staff at the next camp, according to Wilkinson, who hopes to have her there for an important reason.

After ending her playing career in the wake of Euro 2025, Wilkinson claims that Kayleigh Barton and Fishlock are “instrumental to the culture” she wants in the national squad.

Fishlock, 39, recently resigned from Seattle Reign, a club in the National Women’s Soccer League, on a new one-year contract.

She made 166 appearances for Wales, the last of which came in a friendly defeat by Australia at the Cardiff City Stadium. She had already given up on her career there.

According to Wilkinson, “I believe Jess could still be playing,” according to the BBC Wales Feast of Football podcast.

Knowing that you have more in the tank, she will have a difficult year because she is aware that she could still represent Wales.

Wales will face Albania in Group B1 World Cup qualifying along with Montenegro and the Czech Republic.

Because Wales is in League B, there is no guarantee that the team will automatically advance to the Women’s World Cup, which could include three stages of play-off preparation.

Although Wilkinson has stated that Wales are just beginning a new four-year cycle that will mark the 2029 Euros, she has also stressed that her team can face challenges for World Cup qualification.

Meanwhile, Fishlock believes that as more young players try to establish themselves with Wales, their future is “very bright” and wants to support them along the way.

Being a member of the group and shaping their future is something I would enjoy, Fishlock said to BBC Sport Wales.

I’d love to impart some knowledge and occasionally a sense of calm.

Wales endured a challenging 2025 after defeating the Republic of Ireland in a Euro play-off in December of that year.

They went 12-game without winning any of their three European Championship games, which they finally came to an end with a friendly win over Switzerland earlier this month.

Fishlock claims that Wales will gain from the “a lot of young children” over time.

They are excellent, she continued, “They just need to take some time to understand what international football is because it’s so different from club [football]”.