What does Cymru mean and why could Wales change their name after the World Cup?

WALES are participating in only their second-ever World Cup tournament as they face England, USA and Iran in Qatar.

Rob Page will be hoping to make history with his side in the Middle East, qualifying for the competition ahead of Ukraine.

However, it could be the last tournament where Wales are known by that name.

Reports believe that the national team are looking to change their name to Cymru after the 2022 World Cup.

What does Cymru mean?

Wales are in talks with the European federations to change the name of their national team to Cymru.

The word Cymru is pronounced ‘come-ree’ phonetically and literally means ‘the people’ or ‘fellow countrymen’.

The Twitter account of the Welsh national team is @Cymru, the term that Welsh speakers recognise their country by.

Wales’ national language is called ‘Cymraeg’ .

The language is taught to every child at state school in the country and has been since before the introduction of the Welsh Assembly – later called the Senedd – in 1999.

Why are the Wales football team changing their name?

Wales chief Noel Mooney has opened up on the decision to change the name, speaking ahead of their first World Cup since 1958.

Mooney said that staff and players at the FAW call the team Cymru – and a natural development would be to re-brand the team.

Wales’ famous national anthem – Hen wlad fy Nhadau – is sung in Welsh – and ‘Cymru am byth’ has long been a slogan associated with the country’s sporting allegiances.

He said: “The team should always be called Cymru, that’s what we call it here.

“Our view at the moment is that domestically we’re clearly called Cymru. That’s what we call our national teams.

“If you look at our website, how we talk about ourselves, we are very much Cymru.

“I think 2023 will be a year when we have a good discussion with all the different stakeholders – whether that Governments, our own boards, councils and decision-making bodies, staff, clubs and players.”;