For Laura Hughes, the big occasions have barely let up. Within the space of a fortnight, the 24-year-old midfielder helped Melbourne City claim Australia's domestic title in the A-League Women's grand final, then started their AFC Women's Champions League semi-final against Tokyo Verdy Beleza in South Korea. Now, without so much as returning home to Canberra in between, she has pitched up in Wales aiming to play a meaningful role in a Women's World Cup qualifying campaign that is approaching its most critical juncture.

Wales face Montenegro in Podgorica on Friday evening — kick-off 17:00 BST at Gradski Stadion — before hosting the Czech Republic in Cardiff the following Tuesday. Both fixtures could decide who tops Group B1, a question that currently hinges on goal difference. Wales trail the Czechs on that measure, meaning a comprehensive victory in Montenegro is effectively the minimum requirement before the decisive home tie.

A season to remember at club level

Hughes describes Melbourne City's campaign as a "very historic" one for the club, and her own involvement in back-to-back knockout fixtures at the sharp end of the season has clearly sharpened her for what comes next. "I think especially with those games being high-pressure knockout games, it's prepared me really well for what's coming with Wales," she said. The Champions League run ended in defeat to Tokyo Verdy Beleza, but the experience of competing at that level in Asian football will not have been lost on Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson when selecting her squad.

Having switched her international allegiance from Australia — for whom she earned a friendly cap in 2024 — Hughes made her Wales debut as a substitute in a 3-2 friendly win over Switzerland last December. She has been unavailable for the first two qualifying camps of this cycle due to a knee injury, making the forthcoming fixtures her first opportunity to contribute in a competitive fixture for her adopted nation.

'I feel very Welsh'

The personal dimension to this qualifying window is not lost on Hughes herself. Born and raised in Canberra, she nonetheless spent considerable time in Porthcawl as a child, where her grandfather, aunt and cousins are based. True to form, after flying from South Korea she headed straight to the Welsh coast rather than make the long journey back to Australia, helping herself acclimatise — or at least try to, given she cheerfully accepted responsibility for arriving alongside a heatwave.

"I feel very connected to Porthcawl and Wales. I feel very Welsh," she said, noting that her mother shed a tear when she made her Wales debut. Committing to the red shirt, she added, was a "no-brainer" once the opportunity presented itself under Wilkinson.

The road to the play-offs

A World Cup place remains a distant prospect at this stage, but the route is clear. If Wales can finish as group winners, they earn a more straightforward path through the play-off rounds later this year. Group B1 will be settled in Cardiff — the Czech Republic also visit — meaning Wales must first do their job in Montenegro before the home straight.

Hughes is pragmatic about the challenge. "The game against Montenegro will be challenging and will set us up really well for the next game," she said. "We're looking at a really tough, aggressive side that we don't know what, sometimes, they're going to throw at us, so we've got to be prepared for everything."

For a player who grew up dreaming of a World Cup, these are precisely the moments that make switching allegiance feel worthwhile. "To play at a World Cup — I've dreamed about that since I was a kid," she admitted. "It would be really cool." After a season of high-pressure finals, she arrives in Podgorica with her best possible preparation done.

Frequently asked

When do Wales Women play their World Cup qualifying games in June 2025?
Wales face Montenegro in Podgorica on Friday 5 June at 17:00 BST, then host the Czech Republic in Cardiff on Tuesday 10 June. Both matches are part of Women's World Cup qualifying Group B1.
Who is Laura Hughes and why is she eligible to play for Wales?
Laura Hughes is a 24-year-old midfielder who plays for Melbourne City in Australia. She is eligible for Wales through her mother and has committed to represent the country after previously earning one cap for Australia in a friendly in 2024.
What do Wales need to qualify for the Women's World Cup play-offs?
Wales currently trail the Czech Republic in Group B1 on goal difference. Finishing top of the group would give them a more favourable route through the play-off rounds later in 2025, with the group outcome set to be decided when the two sides meet in Cardiff.