All to play for as Wales’ fate is now in their own hands.

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Wales need just a single point from their showdown with Slovenia at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday evening as they bid to reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Offs. Victory could see them make a dream trip down under for the finals in Australia next year.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the first time that the FIFA Women’s World Cup will have two host nations. It will take place from 20 July to 20 August 2023.

The 2023 tournament will see the Women’s World Cup expanded from 24 to 32 teams as the female game continues to expand.

Carrie Jones’ first ever goal for the Welsh was enough to see them narrowly push aside Greece in the heat of the almost deserted Panthessaliko Stadium at Volos in Greece last Friday evening. The Leicester City midfielder – on loan from Manchester United – fired Wales ahead after half an hour, shooting home from close range.

The conditions were far removed from the sleet and rain which had characterised the earlier encounter between these sides at Parc y Scarlets Llanelli on a wild, West Wales wintry night. Wales won that one with ease.

In a far from exciting game, the yellow-shirted visitors rarely looked troubled and saw out the final stages with shrewd game management.

A record crowd for a Women’s international game in Wales will be present for the Slovenia game with a five figure gate already assured.

The game takes place at the Cardiff City Stadium, which has grown into an intimidating fortress for Robert Page’s male squad in their recent successes in qualifying for European and World Cup final stages. Wales boss Gemma Grainger will be hoping that the “Red Wall” of bucket hat wearing Wales fans can inspire her girls over the line against tough opponents.

There would still be some hard work ahead for the Welsh even if they were to make it over the line on Tuesday.

If Wales qualify for the playoffs it’s likely to mean a playoff against one of Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Bosnia or Portugal and then a second game against Switzerland, Iceland or Belgium.

This will not be at the front of the minds of Jess Fishlock, Tash Harding, Sophie Ingle and Kayleigh Green though as they eye up what could they be their last chance of pulling on that famous red shirt on the biggest stage of all.

Tickets for the match on Tuesday are available at faw.cymru/tickets.

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