Craig Bellamy aims for World Cup qualification with Wales

Wales commenced their World Cup qualifying journey at home against Kazakhstan on March 22, 2025. The match took place at the Cardiff City Stadium as part of the first round of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Under the guidance of new manager Craig Bellamy, Wales is eager to secure a positive start to their campaign. This match is particularly significant for Bellamy, who has never previously played in a World Cup despite a successful club career. His primary aim as manager is to lead the team to their second consecutive World Cup appearance after an earlier exit in Qatar in 2022. Bellamy's previous success with the team includes an unbeaten six-match stretch in the Nations League, where they achieved three wins and three draws, which helped elevate Wales to top-tier status for the upcoming edition of the competition. However, the team faces challenges ahead of the match as they cope with injuries to key players. Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson have been ruled out, which narrows the options for the squad. Ampadu's role is critical in central midfield, while Wilson’s scoring record in recent matches has made him a vital contributor. Additionally, captain Aaron Ramsey is sidelined due to hamstring issues, leaving Wales in a precarious situation as they look to field a competitive lineup against Kazakhstan. The match against Kazakhstan marks a historic moment as it will be the first meeting between the two national teams at the senior level. Kazakhstan is currently ranked 110th in the world, significantly lower than Wales, which is positioned 81 places above them in the FIFA rankings. Despite this disadvantage, Kazakhstan has demonstrated competitiveness by winning six of their ten qualifiers for Euro 2024 and achieving victories over teams such as Northern Ireland, Denmark, and Finland. Therefore, Wales must remain vigilant to avoid complacency. In light of the challenges presented by injuries, Bellamy has made strategic adjustments, including bringing in relatively inexperienced midfielder Kai Andrews to bolster the squad. Andrews has garnered attention for his potential, although he has limited match experience at the senior level. The team dynamics will undoubtedly evolve as Bellamy aims to maintain the positive momentum generated from previous successes while addressing the pressing issues of player availability and performance. As the qualifiers unfold, the anticipation builds for how Wales will perform in this campaign under Bellamy's leadership.