Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership
I recently returned from Switzerland, where I proudly watched the Cymru Women give their all in the last group match against England at the Arena St. Gallen in St. Gallen. It was a memorable occasion for everyone at the stadium, in the Fan Zone and around the city.
During my visit to St. Gallen, from 11 – 14 July, I met with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to discuss how we maximise the impact of the Cymru Women’s first appearance at a major tournament finals and the investments we are making through the £1m Partner Support Fund, Sport Wales’s capital programme and the Multi-sports Grassroots Facilities Programme in Wales. I look forward to continuing our work with the FAW and all our partners to encourage and support more women and girls to watch, follow, play, volunteer or work in the game of football.
On Saturday, 12 July 2025, I visited the Abbey Library of St. Gallen, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the oldest library in Switzerland and one of the largest and oldest monastery libraries in the world. Its books and original documents catalogue the development of European culture and is described as a ‘pharmacy of the soul’. I also visited the Cymru Women’s team base, in Weinfelden, where a very impressive array of elite facilities and support services clearly demonstrated the level of planning, preparation and professionalism behind the team. On returning to St. Gallen, I met our resident poet, Sarah McCreadie, who is using her passion for Welsh football and the spoken word to record and celebrate the team's journey, to promote women's football and inspire young people to read and write poetry.
On the day of the game against England, on 13 July, I was privileged to represent the Welsh Government at the Apéro hosted by the Cantonal Government of St. Gallen, where I was able to thank local representatives for hosting our Cymru fans and sharing the cultural highlights of the Canton with us all. I also met and thanked British consulate officials for the support and assistance they provided to visitors from Wales during the competition.
During the tournament, the people of, and audiences in, Lucerne and St. Gallen have seen the best of Wales and its values of equality, diversity and inclusion, through the lens of sport, poetry, music, and creativity. The Cymru Women can be enormously proud of what they have achieved and the inspiration they have created for thousands of boys and girls across Wales. The Wales fans have also left their mark on the tournament with their passion through song and their unwavering support and pride.
I would like to thank Rhian Wilkinson, the team, and the backroom staff for the effort and commitment they gave during the competition. I would also like to thank the FAW and all the Euro 2025 Partner Support Fund organisations out in Switzerland and in Wales for creating such a positive impression around the competition.