A history-making but ultimately brutal 2025 ended on a high note for Wales as they signed off the calendar year with a 3-2 victory over Switzerland in the Spanish city of Jerez.
The win against the Euro 2025 hosts and quarter-finalists brought an end to Wales' 12-game winless run, with head coach Rhian Wilkinson going on to admit it was a relief to remove the "burden" that had hung over the side.
Now, looking ahead and aiming to build on reaching their first ever major tournament, Wilkinson's side kick-start their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign with a March double header against Czechia in Uherské Hradište on 3 March and Montenegro in Llanelli four days later.
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It will be Wales' first qualifying campaign since the retirement of record goalscorer and appearance-maker Jess Fishlock, and one that, in some ways, signifies the beginning of a new era.
Plymouth Argyle's uncapped duo Phoebie Poole and Olivia Francis are both included for the opening pair of qualifying fixtures, as is Rugby Borough's Poppy Soper, who is the only other uncapped member in Wilkinson's 26-player squad.
Wilkinson still has the experience of centurions Sophie Ingle, Angharad James and Hayley Ladd to call upon along with the likes of Women's Super League stars Olivia Clark, Ceri Holland, Hannah Cain and Lily Woodham.
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The January transfer window also yielded some useful moves as far as Wilkinson is concerned.
Ladd secured a switch from top-flight Everton to second tier promotion hopefuls Crystal Palace while Manchester United's 18-year-old talent Mared Griffiths - who scored her first senior international goal in sublime fashion against Australia in October - will hope to benefit from regular action during her loan spell with WSL 2 side Sunderland over the remaining months of the 2025-26 campaign.
Wales' intention to evolve in the post-Fishlock era is also evidenced by the inclusion of players such as Mia Ross, Tianna Teisar and Gwen Zimmermann - who all made their first team debuts in the latter stages of last year.
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Currently injured Melbourne City midfielder Laura Hughes - who made her debut against the Swiss in December - is the only absentee of note, meaning Wilkinson can be more than pleased with the wealth of options she has at her disposal.
But it does pose a major question. Where are the goals going to come from?
Fishlock scored 48 goals in her 166 outings for Wales, but no player in the current Wales squad has netted double figures for their country.
It is a similar dilemma to which the men's side faced following talisman Gareth Bale's retirement in January 2023, with Wilkinson knowing full well that she will need to follow in Craig Bellamy's footsteps, and Rob Page to an extent, in ensuring the team is as strong as possible collectively without the stardust of Fishlock.
Fortunately, Wilkinson and her fellow coaches will be blessed to be able to call upon the nous and knowledge of Fishlock next month after it was confirmed the 39-year-old would form part of the technical staff for the opening two matches of the upcoming qualifying campaign - a money can't buy type boost for the Wales squad.
Ultimately, 2026 presents Wales and the FAW with a major opportunity to demonstrate just how serious they are about going to the next level having broken their duck by reaching the finals of a major tournament last summer.
While the Wales management are determined to move on, Fishlock will crucially still be a part of the process.
Wales squad in full: Olivia CLARK (Leicester City), Safia MIDDLETON-PATEL (Manchester United), Poppy SOPER (Rugby Borough), Hannah CAIN (Leicester City), Charlie ESTCOURT (Portsmouth), Gemma EVANS (Liverpool), Olivia FRANCIS (Plymouth Argyle), Mared GRIFFITHS (Sunderland - On loan from Manchester United), Ceri HOLLAND (Liverpool), Elise HUGHES (Crystal PALACE), Sophie INGLE (Bristol City), Angharad JAMES (Seattle Reign), Lois JOEL (Newcastle United), Carrie JONES (IFK Norrköping), Hayley LADD (Crystal Palace), Esther MORGAN (Bristol City), Ffion MORGAN (West Ham United), Mary MCATEER (Charlton Athletic), Phoebie POOLE (Plymouth Argyle), Ella POWELL (Bristol City), Rhiannon ROBERTS (Sunderland), Mia ROSS (Charlton Athletic), Rachel ROWE (Nottingham Forest), Tianna TEISAR (Plymouth Argyle - On loan from Bristol City), Lily WOODHAM (Liverpool), Gwen ZIMMERMAN (Eclipse Select)
