Welsh win hearts and raise hopes for future

“Why are there so many of you here? Why have you all chosen to come to St Gallen? We’ve never seen the city like this!” Locals in Switzerland’s eighth largest city simply aren’t used to swathes of people in red shirts and bucket hats strolling around the city or populating their bars. It’s not just in St Gallen – where Wales played France – it’s in Lucerne, Zürich, Basel. All over Switzerland, Welsh fans are the darlings of the competition. It’s Cymru’s first major tournament, and fans want to see history played before their eyes.

There had been whispers a large Welsh contingent would be there, but players were overwhelmed to see that Red Wall when they came out of the tunnel for their first game against the Netherlands. It’s a sight the women’s team aren’t used to, but clearly, they are loving every minute.

For the players, this was always going to be a moment to remember. They are the history makers; they will go down as heroines and be immortalised for ever. But for fans? They are making it a trip for the ages. An enormous supporters’ group chat was created pre-tournament to give information on fan meet-ups, fan walks, and even provide chant sheets so new fans can feel like part of the family. And it’s worked well inside the grounds.

It takes something special to outnumber Dutch fans in any sporting event, but Wales had a thousand more fans in the ground than them. There was an intimidation factor when fans began chanting, but the anthem acted as the “we’re here” moment. “Hen Wlad fy Nhadau” has never been sung the way it was in Lucerne. It made fans emotional, made players emotional, and got people talking.

Barcelona’s Esmee Brugts said it was joyful to see new fans at a major tournament, while Sophie Ingle revealed her club team-mate Wieke Kaptein texted her to say just how incredible the national anthem sounded. The stadium atmosphere is one thing, but across Swiss cities, Welsh culture has been growing.

After the opening game, Welsh language band Adwaith played in Lucerne, and did the same again before the game against France in St Gallen. Aleighcia Scott was another Welsh language artist who came to perform before matches.

“Yma o Hyd”, Dafydd Iwan’s cult classic, has been sung on every street corner. Dutch fans wanted to learn the words, so did the French, while Swiss locals demanded it be replayed time and time again.

To hear Welsh spoken so freely on the streets and to hear Welsh songs regularly played outside of your homeland is breathtaking. All these factors came together to create an adventure in Switzerland that will stay with so many people for ever.

Of course there’s the football element. Wales are the lowest ranked team at Euro 2025 and have never beaten a nation in the top 20 of the Fifa rankings. Two defeats in the first two games were tough, but there have been many moments to cherish, with Jess Fishlock’s goal against France being the highlight of them all. Pubs in St Gallen were so full of Cymru fans, you would be mistaken for thinking Wales had won, not lost, 4-1.

Today will see the end of Wales’s journey at Euro 2025, but it feels like the start of something special. Four years ago, five fans travelled to follow Wales away in Slovenia. This weekend will see almost 4,000 cheer them on against England. This has been about more than just results.

The journey made by players and fans to this country will be retold for years and will elevate women’s football in Wales to a level never seen before.

Photograph by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images